ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Thursday, March 25, 2004

Etown Splits Doubleheader with Gettysburg; Pitcher Michelle Morris Seven Strikeouts Away from Etown Career Record

ELIZABEHTOWN, Pa. --- Playing in its first home games of 2004, as well as its first games in 12 days, at home against Gettysburg Thursday, the Blue Jays split their non-conference doubleheader, winning the first game 6-0 and losing the second 6-2. Etown's record now stands at 6-8 overall, while Gettysburg is now 7-4 overall.

Michelle Morris (Conyngham, PA/Hazleton) started in the circle for Etown in the first game and went the distance, spreading five hits and three walks over seven innings while striking out six to get her third win and first shutout of the season. The six strikeouts bring Morris' career total to 353, just seven away from tying the Elizabethtown career record of 360. That record has stood for 16 years and was set by Tammy McDonald '88 between 1985 and 1988.

In the first game, the Blue Jays scored four runs in the second inning and two runs in the third. Kate Sharkey (Orefield, PA/Parkland) batted 3-for-4 with one run scored, and Emily Morris (Canton, PA/Canton) hit 1-for-4 with a triple and two RBI. Lindsey Bowe (Quarryville, PA/Solanco) went 1-for-1 with two walks, two RBI and one run, and Diana Aria (Philadelphia, PA/Merion Mercy Academy) hit 1-for-3 with one run and two RBI. Erin Malone (Orwigsburg, PA/Blue Mountain) hit 1-for-3 with two runs scored, and Megan Balmer (Manheim, PA/Manheim Central) went 2-for-4 at the plate.

In the second game, Gettysburg tallied three runs in the top of the first inning on a three run homer by Molly Gale and scored three more early in the top of the third. Lauren Swiecicki (Baltimore, MD/Perry Hall) took the circle for Etown during the third inning and proceeded to pitch five scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and walking one with one strikeout as the Blue Jays tried to come back, scoring single runs in the bottom of the third and the bottom of the fourth innings.

Emily Morris went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored at the plate in the second game, and she was driven home by Kelli Thon (Victor, NY/Victor Central), who went 1-for-3. Etown's other run was scored when an Allison McMullen (Breinigsville, PA/Parkland) grounder sent home pinch runner Lauren Dressler (Duncannon, PA/Susquenita), who had taken over on the basepaths for Malone after she drew a walk.

Etown was held to just four hits in the second game by Gettysburg pitcher Jackie Pareso, who also struck out four Blue Jay batters. Gale went 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBI, as well as her home run, in the second game.

Etown will return to action as the host of nationally tenth-ranked Moravian in a 2:00 p.m. Commonwealth Conference doubleheader Saturday, March 27.

Elizabethtown Coll. 6, Gettysburg College 0
(Mar 25, 2004 at Elizabethtown, Pa.) (Game 1)
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Gettysburg College.. 000 000 0 - 0 5 1 (6-4)
Elizabethtown Coll.. 042 000 X - 6 10 0 (6-7)
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Pitchers: Gettysburg College - S. Kiry. Elizabethtown Coll. - M. Morris.
Win-M. Morris(3-2) Loss-S. Kiry(2-3) T-1:24 A-40

Gettysburg College 6, Elizabethtown Coll. 2
(Mar 25, 2004 at Elizabethtown, Pa.) (Game 2)
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Gettysburg College.. 303 000 0 - 6 10 0 (7-4)
Elizabethtown Coll.. 001 100 0 - 2 4 1 (6-8)
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Pitchers: Gettysburg College - J. Pareso. Elizabethtown Coll. - J. Cullum; L. Swiecicki(3).
Win-J. Pareso(3-0) Loss-J. Cullum(1-3) T-1:33 A-40
HR GETSB - M. Gale.
J. Cullum faced 4 batters in the 3rd.