DiMaggio Strikes Out 12 to Lead SU in Doubleheader Split
5/1/2001 2:50:58 PM | Softball
DiMaggio improved her record to 8-11 for the season. She scattered seven hits in seven innings and did not allow a walk. She struck out the side in both the fourth and fifth innings. Her only blemish was a sixth-inning home run by Canisius' Jill Iacono. DiMaggio has now won two out her last three starts.
The offense jumped out early in the nightcap, plating all five runs in the first two innings. Sophomore Christina Holowich (Castro Valley, CA) singled to start the first and came all the way around when the Griffins made two errors on Kristen Collins' (Stow, MA) sacrifice bunt. Collins reached safely when the third baseman's throw went wide of the bag, and then moved onto third when the right fielder's attempt to throw her out at second went into left field. Collins plated the second run on a groundout RBI by sophomore Jackie Herrman (Warren, OH).
The Orangewomen did not need any help in the third inning, smacking four hits to score their final three runs. A bases-loaded single by senior Missy Bieman (Wingham, Ontario), making her final home appearance, scored Holowich and freshman Cortney Nickerson (Farmington, NM). Herrman, who had reached on a single, and Bieman each moved up a base on the throw home. Freshman Jaime Grillo (Brentwood, NY) drilled a single up the middle, scoring Herrman, but Bieman was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
Grillo, getting a break from her catching duties for the first time all season, led the offense with two hits and an RBI. Freshman Nikki Lincoln (Baton Rouge, LA) got the start behind the plate and went 1-for-3. DiMaggio also helped herself with a base hit.
It was Canisius that got on the board early in the day's first game, plating two runs in the top of the first. A two-run single by Iacono did the damage after a hit, fielder's choice and passed ball.
The Orangewomen tied the score with a pair of unearned runs in the fifth inning. Lincoln led off with a single and moved to second when senior Shanna Newell (Fort Edward, NY) reached on an error. Both runners advanced into scoring position on a passed ball. With two outs, Nickerson hit a groundball to shortstop, but a throwing error allowed both runners to score.
The Golden Griffins responded in the top of the sixth with a home run by Janice Hoeltke. They added an insurance run in the seventh on Iacono's third RBI of the game.
Junior Heather Brown (Bloomfield, NM) suffered the loss, despite 10 stirkeouts. It was her fifth double-digit strikeout game of the season. With DiMaggio's 12-K performance, the duo recorded back-to-back double-digit strikeout games for the first time this season. Brown is now 9-12 on the season.
Holowich, Lincoln and Grillo each had hits in both ends of the twin bill. Collins added a hit in the opener.
The Orangewomen finish the season with a pair of BIG EAST doubleheaders. They travel to Seton Hall for a 12 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, May 5, and then take on St. John's in the final contests of the season on Sunday, May 6.
