Softball Upsets Third Seed Adelphi 4-0 in NCAA Opener Wednesday
Softball's Seniors Lead Bulldogs Past #3 Adelphi in Opening Round of NCAA Tournament 4-0 Wednesday Morning
May 7, 2008 BOX SCORE
BROOKVILLE, NY - Bulldog seniors Jessica Valentini (Cliffside Park, NJ), Jennifer Serrano (Stoneham, Mass.) and Janine Enos (Wareham, Mass.), playing in their fourth straight NCAA tournament, led the Bulldogs to a first round upset of #3 Adelphi 4-0 Wednesday morning.
The three seniors, who helped lead Bryant to the regional championship game last year, showed their experience, getting Bryant into the winner's bracket. Enos tossed a complete game shutout in the circle, Valentini drove in all four runs and Serrano turned two crucial double plays to lead the Bulldogs.
Enos, the NE-10 Pitcher of the Year was masterful again for the Bulldogs. The senior went the full seven innings, allowing five hits and striking out two.
The Bulldogs got on the board first, breaking through on Panther ace Julie Schaper in the top of the third. The star of last weekend's NE-10 tournament Valentini knocked a bases-loaded double to the left-center field alley to score Ali Chouinard (Swansea, Mass.) and Stephanie Mirando (North Haven, CT).
The Bulldogs then turned back a Panther rally in the bottom of the frame. A leadoff walk and a soft fly that landed between Kate Thomas (Bedford, NH) and Kim Breton (Leominster, Mass.) put two on with one out. But Enos got out of trouble and the threat was extinguished when Breton made a fine running catch to end the inning.
The Bulldog defense, a problem spot in their Sunday NE-10 Championship game with Le Moyne, was excellent. Serrano and the Bulldogs defense turned crucial double plays to end the fourth and fifth innings and Bryant committed just one error.
Valentini added two insurance runs with a long home run to center in the top of the seventh. The senior has been experiencing a power surge lately. Valentini entered last weekend's play with four career home runs, but has hit five over the last three games.
The win is the 30th for the Bulldogs on the season, which is a new season high for Coach Lisa-Ann Wallace. Last year's squad finished with 29 wins.
With the win, the Bulldogs will play Le Moyne/ New York Tech tomorrow at 2pm.