Scots Open Season With Split in Ft. Myers
FT. MYERS, Fla. - The Alma College softball team opened its season Monday (Feb. 28) after being rained out the day before. The Scots opened their 2005 campaign with a split, dropping the opener 2-1 to Johnson and Wales and winning the nightcap, 2-0, against St. Johns Fisheer. The third game of the day, a reschedule from Sunday's rainout, was called at the top of the fifth in a scoreless tie with Loras College.Against Johnson and Wales, the Scots were locked in a pitching duel between Melissa Tavidian (New Hudson/South Lyon) and Johnson and Wales' Winslow. The Maroon and Cream was finally able to get the first run on the board in the top of the seventh with a walk to Emily Blahnik (Corunna), a sacrifice error to Audra Reynolds (Six Lakes/Montabella), moving pinch runner Kim Light (Howell/Hartland) to third. Amy Gaudard (Mt. Pleasant) knocked Light in with a ground ball to second, giving the Scots their first and only run against JW. To close out the inning, Tavidian issues a walk, allowing two singles, a hit-by-pitch and two wild pitches, allowing JW to score both runs for the narrow victory.
In the second game, Leigh Ann LaFave (Bark River/Escanaba) was masterful in throwing the third no-hitter of her career, becoming only the second player in Alma history to throw three career no-hitters. LaFave struck out nine, walking one in the win.
The Scots opened up the scoring in the first inning with Megan Knochel (Pinconning) getting on base on an error. With a walk to Shannon Harrington (Dewitt/St. Johns) and a double steal moving both runners to second and third, it set the stage for an RBI single from Eileen Butler (Vestaburg) and a sacrifice fly from Blahnik to score both runners.
Alma had a few more chances through the game, but were not able to push any more runners across the plate. St. Johns never threatened as LaFave kept hitters off balance throughout the game.
The Scots continue action Tuesday, as game times have been pushed back to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Posted: Tue, March 1st, 2005 at 12:33AM
