Spina Throws Two-Hitter as Devils Split with Wildcats

Courtney Spina allowed just two hits as the University of the Sciences women's softball team defeated Wilmington University 4-0 in the opening game of their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader at McNeil Field in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

The Devils dropped the nightcap 5-2 to earn in split of their two-game series with the Wildcats.  Sciences is now 8-28 overall and 6-16 in CACC games.   Wilmington's record after the split is 23-17 overall and 13-7 in league play.

Spina turned in one of her best performances of the season, needing just 74 pitches to turn in a the complete game shutout.  The sophomore hurler did not allow a hit  through the first three innings and gave up just two singles on the afternoon, one with one-out in the fourth and the second with one-out in the fifth.  She finished the game with seven strikeouts and did not walk a batter.

On the offensive end, the Devils struck early against Wildcat starter and the CACC's league leader in earned run average Katie Warrington, scoring three time in their first at-bat.  Dayna Phillips singled and was sacrificed to second by Gabrielle Adams.  Erin Summers followed with a single to right centerfield to score Phillips.  A passed ball and a single by SamanthaLou Anastasio put runners on the corners with one out.  Anastasio advanced to second on a fly ball out and both runners came around to score on an overthrow of first base to stake the hosts to a 3-0 lead.

Two innings later, Summers dropped a bunt single to start the inning, advanced on an error and subsequently scored on Julie Shaw's single to make the score 4-0.   Spina, meanwhile was cruising along, retiring the first ten batters before the Wildcats got a baserunner in the fourth.  After Wilmington's second hit with one out in the fifth, Spina retired the final eight batters she faced to close out the game and improve her record to 5-11 on the season.

In the nightcap, the Wildcats scored single runs in the second, third and fourth innings and added two more in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead  before the Devils rallied for two scores in the sixth.  An error and a wild pitch put Haley Kavalak on second with one out.Janelle Rodriguez walked and both runners advanced into scoring position on Samantha Shaver's groundout to the right side.  Shaw followed with a single to leftfield to score Kavalak and Rodriguez with the only two Devils runs of the game.

Gina Murray took the loss for Sciences, falling to 1-6 on the season.

The Devils return to action on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 when they host Holy Family University at McNeil Field.  first pitch is 3:00 p.m.