Softball Falls Short on Final Day of Osprey Invite

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Seeking its second tournament championship of the season, the St. Bonaventure softball team fell short Sunday, losing 3-0 to McNeese St. in the Championship game of the Osprey Invite.

The Bonnies (8-8) recorded just six hits and struck out nine times as the Cowboys used runs in the second, third and fifth innings to secure the tournament championship.

This was McNeese St.'s second victory over St. Bonaventure at the Osprey Invitational, hosted by the University of North Florida, with a 2-0 pre-tournament game shutout Friday.

In her second appearance in as many days, senior Diana Phalon (3-4) went the entire game, throwing six innings while allowing seven hits and striking out three. Although three walks didn't help the cause, some defensive miscues ultimately hurt the Bonnies.

While leading 2-0 in the fifth, McNeese St. got an RBI single from Alanna DiVittorio that scored Tiffany Denham. Denham reached base on a double down the left field line to start the inning and moved to third on a fielding error. A dropped foul ball later in the inning was ruled an error, but Phalon got Katie Roux to pop out to end the frame.

In the second and third, McNeese St. used RBI singles by Kelsey Jolly and Lauren Langner to take control of the game early.

Down 2-0 in the fourth, Brooke Frey had her first of a team-high two hits lacing a double down the left field line. With one out, Frey advanced to third on the wild pitch and Hali Enderby walked. However, what turned out to be an opportunity to cut the lead in half was thwarted when Enderby was caught stealing and Christine Watson popped out to the catcher to end the threat.

As the Bonnies return North, they do so with four players recording double-digit hit totals through the early season in South Carolina and Florida. Kelli Rohan leads the team in average (.389) and hits (14) while displaying excellent speed on the basepaths converting 8-of-9 steal attempts.

Ashley Snider's .538 slugging percentage and 21 total bases are also team-highs, while Enderby leads the team with eight runs-batted-in.

On the mound, sophomore Jen Sansano provided perhaps the best highlight of the young season with a complete-game no-hitter in a 6-0 whitewash over Mount St. Mary's Friday at the Osprey Invite. Sansano leads the staff in wins (4) and opposing batting average (.239) to go along with 29 strikeouts and 46.2 innings pitched through eight starts.

Phalon, who earned her third win with a complete game performance Saturday, has posted a .253 earned-run-average through five starts and 38.2 innings pitched.

After nearly two weeks away from the diamond, the Bonnies return to game action March 16-18 as they take on Belmont, Mercer, Tennessee St. and Ohio State as part of the TSU Tiger Tournament hosted by Tennessee State.