Summers Slam Takes Down Griffins

Erin Summers belted two home runs including a grand slam that led the University of the Sciences women's softball to a 12-2 win over Chestnut Hill in the opening game of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader at the CHC Softball Field in Philadelphia.

The Devils went on to complete the doubleheader sweep, winning the second game 4-1 to improve to 5-17 overall and 3-5 in CACC games.   The Griffins fell to 3-17 and 0-10 in league play.

Summers started the Devils offensive production with a three-run home run in the fourth inning then added the grand slam in the sixth, tying her own school record of two home runs in a single game.  Summers finished the game with seven RBI, breaking the old school record of six in one game first set by Andrea Burgo in 1988 and later tied by Carol Ann Bradford (1988) and Megan Trimble (2004).

Chestnut Hill scored an unearned run in the first and led 1-0 until Summers blast to left field  scored Haley Kavelak (hit by pitch) and SamanthaLou Anastasio (single) to give the Devils a 3-1 lead in the fourth.   One inning later, Kavelak drove in the Devils fourth run on a sacrifice bunt and Anastasio brought home two more with a double in the fifth and later scored the devils fourth run of the inning coming home on a Griffin infield error.

The Devils loaded the bases with one out in the sixth when Gabrielle Adams drove in the Sciences eighth run on a fielders choice to bring up Summers who launched her second home run of the game over the left field fence to make the score 12-1.  The Griffins added a run in the bottom of the inning to make the final score 12-2.

Julie Shaw earned her second win of the season (2-6), pitching five innings, allowing just five hits and one unearned run while striking out five.

In the nightcap, Courtney Spina pitched a complete game, striking out nine and Janelle Rodriguez delivered a three-run double in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie and propel the Devils to a 4-1 win.

Adams and Gina Murray had three hits apiece to help pace the Devils offense.  Murray's single in the second plated Adams with the first Devils run and gave Sciences a 1-0 lead.  The Griffins tied the game in the fourth on Giana Cavallo's solo home run.  The score remained tied until the sixth.  With one out, Adams, Summers and Murray load the bases with singles.  After Samantha Shaver popped out, Rodriguez delivered a bases-clearing double to left field to break the 1-1 tie and give the Devils a 4-1 lead.

Chestnut Hill put two runners on with nobody out in the sixth but The Devils got to groundouts and Spina struck out Mariah Quattlebaum looking to get out of the inning.  Spina retired the Griffins in order in the seventh to seal the win.

The Devils return to action on Wednesday, April 6, 2011 when the face Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey.