We played our tails off all weekend. It was amazing to watch and even more fun to be part of. I am really proud of this team. We have a lot more to do but winning a tournament so early in the year is a very big deal.
The Scores:
SBU 9 Mount St. Mary's 0
SBU 3 Bethune Cookman 0
SBU 3 Bethune Cookman 0
SBU 2 Stetson 3
SBU 9 Bethune Cookman 7 (Championship Game)
Game 1 verses Mount St. Mary's was an interesting game seeing that The Mount is coached by former Bona Great Anna Nagro. I consider Anna as one of my best leaders in my 16 years of coaching at SBU. She was a huge part of our Atlantic 10 post seasons runs.
The score was a bit lopsided and with a 9-0 win, I was very happy to see our bats break out. Christine Watson lead the way with a 3-3 day , while Ashley Snider hit what would have been a MONSTER homerun if the wind was not blowing straight in. It still went 280+. Every starter had a hit which included 4 doubles, 1 triple and a homerun. Jen Sansano got the win with a 2 hit, 5 strikeout performance.
The stellar pitching and defense continued in the second of the day verses Bethune Cookman. Senior Diana Phalon pitched extremely well, giving up 5 hits and striking out 4. She was in total control of the whole game. The defense was once again stellar and for the second straight game did not commit and error. Senior Catcher Brook Frey had two hits on the day while Senior Ashley Nowak doubled and Junior Hali Enderby added a double herself. Final Score...SBU 3 Bethune Cookman 0.
Game three was identical to our first game with Bethune Cookman...a 3-0 Bonnies win. Jen Sansano gave up 5 hits in 7 innings of work, walking 1 and striking out 6. It was one of the best outings of her young career. Jessenia Andujar went 3-3 with a homerun and Ashley Snider belted her second homerun of the season. Once again...the defense was perfect.
Game four was a hard fought 3-2 loss to host Stetson. We had our chances but could not come up with the big hit. It was not fromt he lack of trying. We used four pinch hitters in the game and it was not till Stetson's second baseman made a game saving catch off of Lauren Waite's two out laser that put the final nail in the coffin. Ashley Snider went 2-3, with Brooke Frey and Grace Rooney adding hits. Two errors cost us a run and showed us how close these games are going to be. Diana Phalon was once again superb with a 5 hit, 3K performance, however 3 walks including a lead off walk in the 7th helped Stetson along. It was a game we could have won.
The Championship game was played in the early morning hour of 10am and WOW...what a game it was. Bethune Cookman pounded out a grand slam home run in the first inning off of starter Jen Sansano and before we could breathe we were down 4-0. I knew we would put some runs up but I was not thinking it would be a 5 spot in the first inning, highlighted by a Grace Rooney bases loaded two out triple that helped us take the lead 5-4! BCU came right back out and scored 3 more in the second to chase sophomore pitcher Jen Sansano from the game. Enter Senior, Diana Phalon. Diana came in to get the last out of the inning and then proceeded to give up 2 hits and 0 runs over the last 5 innings of the game.
The Bonnies added 3 runs of their own to once again answered BCU in the second inning and then added an insurance run in the 5th when freshman Kelli Rohan knocked in Freshman Grace Rooney with a single up the middle. Rohan finished the day 3-4 while Jessenia Andujar went 2-3. Brittany Storch made a diving catch over her shoulder to end the game and ending a BCU threat in the 7th inning. It was a great tournament and a wonderful weekend for SBU softball.
I would like to thank all of you that attended the tournament, friends and family. A special thanks to Greg Putzke, my old high school buddy and to my mother and aunt. It was wonderful to see you there. I even got to meet some new family that I never knew I had! Thank you all for daring to dodge the rain drops.
