View game 1 box score
View game 2 box score
RADNOR, Pa. – The Cabrini softball team split a Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) doubleheader versus Immaculata University on Friday afternoon at Cabrini Field. The Cavaliers rallied from a three-run deficit in game two for a thrilling 6-5 victory in eight innings.
Freshman CF Casey O'Connell supplied the heroics in the night-cap, taking the first pitch she saw in the bottom of the eighth inning from Immaculata freshman P Ally Zborowski into the right-center field gap. Senior RF Mary Kate Smith, who walked to lead off the inning, scored easily from third base with the winning run.
Four of Cabrini's last six wins have been in come-from-behind fashion. The Cavaliers rallied for a 4-3 win at CSAC opponent Centenary College on April 9, for a 7-3 victory at CSAC foe Baptist Bible College on April 10 and for a 5-4 triumph at non-conference opponent Widener University on April 12.
The Blue & White trailed 5-3 heading into its final at-bat. Sophomore 3B Ryan McDonough made it a one-run game, 5-4, with a one-out RBI single, scoring sophomore SS Sammy Thompson. One batter later, sophomore 1B Angela Shookster nearly sent everyone home 15 minutes earlier after slamming an RBI double off the base of the rightfield fence.
Senior P Liz Zimmer battled for her team-leading seventh win of the season in game two. Zimmer recorded her ninth complete game of the season, surrendering five hits and fanning three.
After Zimmer allowed a three-run homerun off the bat of IU senior SS Jackie Finkbohner in the fourth inning, the veteran beared down and retired the final 13 batters she faced.
The Mighty Macs put up five runs in the first inning and three runs in the second en route to a 10-4 victory in game one. Zborowoski, junior C Sara Holleran and freshman 3B Holly Schell each notched three RBI in the win.
Immaculata got to Cabrini freshman P Marcelle Crist for an uncharacteristic seven earned runs on nine hits in just 2.0 innings pitched. The Mighty Macs plated all five runs in the first inning with two outs. Crist's ERA jumped to 2.20 in the loss, still tops on the team.
Zimmer came on in relief, tossing 5.0 innings and allowing two earned runs on four hits. All told, Zimmer pitched 13.0 innings on the afternoon. She lowered her ERA on the season to a career-best 2.49.
The Blue & White cut into its eight-run deficit with three runs in the third inning. Shookster drove in two runs with a single to right field. Senior 2B Cheri Johns followed that with an RBI single of her own back through the box.
The Cavaliers added an unearned run in the fourth inning.
IU freshman P Nikki Curcione collected the victory in game one, lasting 7.0 innings and striking out five.
Cabrini (14-12, 8-2) continues its CSAC regular season schedule tomorrow at Gwynedd-Mercy College. Game one versus the Griffins is set to start at 12 p.m.
