DeLand, Fla. ? Senior catcher Blythe Golden (Marianna, Fla.) hit her first home run of the season and junior first baseman Andrea Migliori (Winter Garden, Fla.) socked her 13th to lead the Stetson softball team (26-12) to a 6-1 win over visiting Canisius in the opening game of a doubleheader tonight at Patricia Wilson Field. The Hatters fell 3-1 in the nightcap.
Trailing 1-0 in the opener, the Hatters used the longball to score five runs in the bottom of the fourth. With two on and one out, Golden took a 1-2 pitch from Canisius starter Lindsay Morris the other way and over the right field wall to put Stetson up 3-1. It was her first homer of the season and the fifth of her career. Two batters later, following a single by sophomore center fielder Amy Joyce (Lake Mary, Fla.), Migliori chased Morris from the game with a gargantuan blast over the scoreboard in left field to make it 5-1.
Sophomore pitcher Amanda Lindsey (Byhalia, Miss.) held the Golden Griffins down from there and Stetson added another run in the sixth on an RBI fielder's choice by Migliori.
Lindsey gave up just one run (unearned) in seven innings on five hits and one walk to earn her 13th win of the season. She finished one shy of her career high with nine strikeouts. Morris took the loss for Canisius with five runs allowed in 3.2 innings on five hits and three walks. She struck out two.
Migliori and Golden drove in three runs each with Golden also adding a double off the left field wall in the sixth inning. Jenny Maheu and Katie Miranto had two hits each for Canisius, which is now 6-7 on the season after tonight.
The Griffs scored single runs in the first and second innings in the nightcap and tacked on an insurance run in the fifth to claim the 3-1 victory. DP Emily Helbig went two for two with an RBI double and first baseman Cameron Norton also had an RBI double for Canisius.
Stetson cut its deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the third on an RBI single off the bat of junior left fielder Amanda Bailey (Destin, Fla.). After Canisius made it 3-1, the Hatters had a golden opportunity in their last turn at bat, loading the bases with one out, but Canisius started a 6-4-3 double play that ended the game.
Juliette Bowers got the win for Canisius with 10 strikeouts. She allowed five hits and five walks in seven innings but ultimately let in just one run. Junior Erica Demers (Miami, Fla.) took the loss with three runs allowed (two earned) on seven hits and two walks in seven innings. She struck out four.
The Hatters start Atlantic Sun conference action tomorrow at noon here at Patricia Wilson Field. Jamie Bataille will broadcast both games of the doubleheader between Stetson and Campbell (22-12, 0-2 A-Sun) live on Hatter Vision. Video, audio and live stats are available on www.gohatters.com, the official online home of Stetson Athletics.
