A seven-run eighth inning lifted the Albertus Magnus softball team to an 11-6 extra-inning victory over Pine Manor in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action on Friday afternoon. The Falcons used 13 hits and five Gator errors to pick up the first-game victory of the league double-header.
Led by Elaina Maio (West Haven, Conn.) and her 3-for-5 effort in the contest, the Falcons improved to 9-12 overall and 5-8 in the league standings. The loss gives Pine Manor a 3-8 mark on the year as well as in GNAC play.
Maio tallied three hits, including a double, as well as two RBI and one run scored to lead the Falcons. Freshman Aimee Mirto (Hamden, Conn.) added a 2-for-5 showing at the plate along with a double and three RBI. Both Leyna Andren (Manahawkin, N.J.) and Brittney Urciuoli (Newington, Conn.) added multiple-hit efforts on the afternoon.
After Pine Manor took a 1-0 lead in the first inning after two costly Falcon errors allowed the inning to continue, Albertus posted three runs in the third to take a 3-1 advantage. An RBI single from Krista LaBissoniere (Meriden, Conn.) tied the game at one before an error by the Gators' infield allowed Albertus to score its second run of the game. Mirto recorded an RBI single to right to plate the third Falcon of the inning.
Albertus extended its lead to 4-1 in the top of the sixth as Andren tallied an RBI single to right to score Shannon Knox (Hamden, Conn.) from second. Pine Manor cut the Falcons' lead to one with two runs in the bottom of the frame before tying the score at four in the seventh to force the game into extra innings.
The Falcons wasted no time in extras as they posted a seven-run eighth inning to take an 11-4 lead. Urciuoli plated the Falcons' first two runs of the frame with a single to center before a single by Danielle Figueroa (Bridgeport, Conn.) loaded the bases. LaBissoniere forced a walk to score Andren from third to give the Falcons a three-run lead.
Maio followed with a double to center to score two more Falcons before a ground-rule double by Mirto plated two more. The Falcons scored seven runs on five hits and one Pine Manor error in the frame.
The Gators scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth but the Falcons were able to cut the home team's rally short. A home run to left field by Tia Nelson began the Gators' run but a ground out and a strike out secured the conference victory for the Falcons.
Danielle Thuerling (Wallingford, Conn.) earned the win to improve to 6-10 on the year. Thuerling threw all eight innings and allowed four earned runs and 10 hits, while striking out eight. Pine Manor's Nelson took the loss to fall to 1-5 on the year.
