Four-run first frame sends Charlotte past Bonnies :: Brown and White shutout for ninth time this season

May 8, 2008

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The St. Bonaventure softball team's return trip to the Atlantic 10 Championship didn't start as planned on Thursday afternoon as the host 49ers exploded for four runs in the first inning en route to a 4-0 victory in second round action at the Phillips Softball Complex.

Due to the Brown and White's loss in their first appearance of this season's tournament, the club will move to an elimination game on Friday at 4:00 p.m. The Bonnies will take on the winner of this afternoon's Fordham and Saint Joseph's contest tomorrow at the 49ers Softball Diamond.

Since its arrival in the Atlantic 10 three years ago, Charlotte has dominated the all-time series with the Bonnies with a 7-1 all-time advantage, including three victories this season. St. Bonaventure drops to 20-24 on the season with losses in three straight games following a sweep of Rhode Island, while Charlotte improves to 33-29 in the 2008 campaign.

Today was the club's ninth shutout loss this year, while their three hits against the 49ers matched the season's second lowest bat production.

In contrast to the tournament's first four contests, Charlotte wasted little time in lighting up the scoreboard by plating four runs in the top of the first frame to take an early 4-0 advantage. The 49ers pounded out five first inning hits off sophomore ace Sherri Thompson, including a pair of run producing doubles into left center field.

Following two consecutive singles to start the game, the 49ers crossed the plate for the first time thanks to a throwing error by Bona catcher Kara Morenus. In hopes of throwing out freshman Whitney Williams at second base, Morenus' throw sailed into the outfield allowing junior Sarah Marlene to score easily from third for the game's first run.

Charlotte added a second run thanks to a one-run single into left field by sophomore Serena Smith, while the home club tacked on its final two runs on a pair of RBI doubles from junior Jamie West and senior Emily Forbes to account for the 4-0 final outcome.

The Brown and White failed to register a hit in the club's first three appearances at the dish due to the early performance on the mound from sophomore Emily Jeffery (18-11). The sophomore pitcher retired nine straight Bona batters with seven of the outs coming via a strikeout. Despite her rocky start to the afternoon, Thompson settled down in the circle over the next two innings, allowing just one Charlotte base knock during the span. Five of Charlotte's nine total hits occurred in the four-run first inning.

After three innings of no-hit softball, the Bonnies finally put one into play in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a short dribbler towards the pitching circle from junior Kathryn Pazda. However, senior Andrea Swanger popped up her bunt during the next at-bat forcing a double play at first as Pazda was already halfway towards second base.

The Bonnies never threatened the 49er's lead throughout the contest as they failed to advance a runner past first base.

Thompson (16-11) picked up her second straight defeat in the circle after surrendering nine hits and four earned runs. The Ulysses, Pa. product added six strikeouts to her single-season school record 174 strikeout tally.

Despite the overall poor production at the plate, junior Kathryn Pazda posted a 2-for-3 batting effort with a pair of singles. Sophomore Stephanie Narde managed the only other Bona base hit.