Apr. 22, 2011

Box Score Gm. 1
Box Score Gm. 2

Though it may not show in the standings, signs of improvement continue to emerge for the Lehman softball team.

Playing without several starters on Friday afternoon, the Lightning lost the doubleheader 9-0 and 9-1 to a quality St. Joseph's (BK) team – 18-6 entering action – but made a majority of the routine plays to hang tough throughout.

The Bears used a balanced attack in the first game to dispatch the Lightning as seven of the nine starters collected at least one hit. Junior Alyson Chiaramonte went 2-for-2 with two RBIs, while freshman Megan Moran also drove in a pair.

Junior Lisa Sheer went the distance for St. Joseph's, allowing only four hits – two a piece for both Lakeisha Gordon and Ashley Falcon – in her five innings of work.

Facing Lightning ace, Natalie Martinez, in the second game, the Bears went to work early, scoring five runs in the opening inning. Jackie Marinello and Chiaramonte each contributed run-scoring triples, Emily Palmieri knocked in two with a base hit and Jillian Troise added an RBI groundout to put St. Joseph's in the driver's seat.

The five runs were more than enough for Chiaramonte, who took the mound for the Bears after manning first base in the opener. The tall righty was dominant early, striking out five of the first nine batters to face her, while not allowing a hit until Gordon's slap single leading off the fourth. All told, the Staten Island native fanned nine over six innings for the win.

Gordon had another strong game slapping the ball for the Lightning, recording two more hits in the process. Martinez went 2-for-3 and drove in the only Lightning run with a well struck double to right centerfield in the fourth.

Lehman's final conference tilt of the regular season comes its way on Tuesday when the Lightning hosts Baruch College for a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m.