ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Brittany Grage threw a complete game five-hit shutout and was backed by two home runs as Rochester (N.Y.) defeated 15th-ranked Rowan 5-0 in on Thursday afternoon.
Grage walked one and struck out two to earn her 17th win of the season. She induced 17 ground ball outs.
Grage needed a big strikeout in the fifth when the Profs (37-11) threatened to even the score. Rochester led 2-0. With two down, Shilah Snead doubled to deep center. Jennifer Arcella lined ball off Grage's forearm with Snead racing to third.
That brought up designated player Ashley DeYoung. She hit a long double in the first inning and walked in the third. Arcella stole second with the count 2-2 on DeYoung. It ran full before Grage got a called strike three to end the inning.
The Yellowjackets took a 1-0 lead in the third against Krysti Maronski. With two outs, Meg Hennessy lifted a long fly to left center that the wind carried into the top of the fence. Hennessy raced to third and scored when the ball was mishandled in the outfield, then the throw home was off the plate. In the fourth, Lauren Muni homered over the left centerfield fence for a 2-0 lead.
Maronski was replaced by Beth Ann Hyland. She set down three consecutive hitters to end the fourth. In 3.0 innings, Maronski allowed four hits, two runs (one earned) with no walks and three strikeouts. Hyland pitched 1.1 innings, allowing three hits, three runs (all earned), with no walks and no strikeouts.
Rochester added three more runs in the fifth. Tiffany White singled, but was forced at second by Tayler Fravel. Hennessy, who was 3-for-3, bunted for a single. Nina Korn hit a 1-2 pitch down the left field foul line for a three-run home run. It was Korn's 13th home run of the year, tying a record she set last year with Gena Bradford-Tume.
Hyland was replaced by Allison Nolan. She retired five of the seven hitters she faced in the past 1.2 innings. Muni singled in the fifth and White walked in the sixth. Nolan had one strikeout.
Rowan threatened early. With two outs, DeYoung doubled to deep center and Alysa Romero drove a single to right, advancing DeYoung to third. Maronski bounced out to end the inning.
