FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Clark University softball team needed just ten innings for two games on Friday morning as the Cougars defeated SUNY Delhi and Lehman by respective 9-0 and 14-4 mercy-rule victories at the CenturyLink Sports Complex.

The Basics

Score: Cougars 9, Broncos 0 | Cougars 14, Lightning 4

Records: Clark University (5-4) | SUNY Delhi (2-3) | Lehman (0-4)

How it Happened

Cougars 9, Broncos 0 – Game One

The Cougars needed just eight hits to get to the run-rule with Christina Kopacz (North Grosvenordale, Conn.) ripping a pair of hits as part of a 2-for-3 day to lead the offense while Francesca Cirone (Franklin Square, N.Y.) drove in a game-high two RBI.

Senior Sarah Woods (Groton, Mass.) went the complete five innings for the shutout inside the circle, surrendering just one hit while striking out three and allowing no walks.  

Woods was dialed in from the start as the senior captain set down six hitters in a row, including all three of her punchouts with two coming in the top of the second inning.

In the home-half of the second, Clark gave its starter all she needed, pushing across six runs on five hits. An RBI single from first-year Kaylee Armida (Pine Bush, N.Y.) finished off a string of three straight hits to start the inning before an RBI double from Cirone and a single through the infield from Jessica Martin (Winthrop, Mass.) made it an early 6-0 lead.

Woods remained in control as she put together her third consecutive one-two-three frame in the top of the third. In the fourth she allowed her first hit of the game on a lead-off single to center from Natasha Picozzi in the fourth inning before securing three quick outs.

The Cougars reached the run-rule in the bottom of the fourth with a single up the middle from Kelsey Joyce (Leominster, Mass.) and a single through the infield from Olivia Capobianco (North Attleboro, Mass.) getting the first two runners aboard. After two runs came across to score, the second one on an RBI ground out from Cirone, Kopacz wrapped up the scoring as she placed an RBI single to centerfield to plate JC Urella (North Grafton, Mass.) for the 9-0 advantage.

Woods closed out the game in the top of the fifth, tossing her fourth one-two-three frame as she forced a pair of flyouts and a grounder to earn the 9-0 victory.

Cougars 14, Lightning 4 – Game Two

Clark's offense stood in a groove for game two as the team ripped ten hits in all with Capobianco leading the show with a 3-for-4 contest including four RBI and three runs scored. Urella added to the eight Cougars' to pick up hits, finishing 1-for-3 while driving in three runs herself.

First-year Nicole Buckley (Hazlet, N.J.) earned her first career victory on the rubber with the right-hander tossing a solid 4.2 innings of work while striking out two and allowing no earned runs on three hits.

Clark wasted no time taking control as the team struck for nine runs in the bottom of the first inning to take the commanding lead. A bunt single from Capobianco and three stolen bases by the first-year got the momentum going before a two-run single later in the inning from sophomore Kaylee Gibson made it a 4-0 lead. With two outs, Urella roped a bases-clearing three-run double to bring the margin up to 9-0.

The Cougars went back to work in the bottom of the second as a hit-by-pitch and a walk allowed Capobianco to come up with the first-year swatting a two-out double to plate Reilly Bronson (Seymour, Conn.) and Eliza Lindberg (East Chatham, N.Y.).

Lehman pushed across four runs in the top of the fourth inning, all coming off relief pitcher Jessica Sardilli (Farmington, Conn.) before Buckley returned to the circle to escape the bases-loaded jam for a 9-4 score.

The Cougars responded in the home-half of the inning as Capobianco singled in Lindberg with a throwing error allowing Stillwell to come in as well. Capobianco later scored herself with the game's final run with Cirone lifting a sacrifice liner to right for the 14-4 advantage. Buckley secured the mercy-rule win in the top of the fifth, working around one hit before fielding the final play of the game for the convincing victory.

Up Next

The Cougars close out their Florida trip on Saturday, March 7 when they take on North Central for a 9:00 A.M. contest before meeting up with Worcester-area foe Anna Maria at 11:00 A.M.