SHAW SOFTBALL FALLS TO BARTON

March 25, 2008 – Raleigh, NC – The Shaw University Softball Team played host to the Barton College Lady Bulldogs. Unfortunately, the Lady Bears were defeated in both games of the scheduled doubleheader. Shaw was shutout in the first game 14 – 0 and despite consecutive homeruns by freshman sensation #22 Monica Grimmage, lost the second game, 13 – 2.

In game one, Shaw found difficulty in mustering momentum at the plate. Consequently, the Lady Bears were defended to just three hits; one each in the first, third, and fifth innings. Meanwhile, of Barton’s 30 plate appearances, the visiting Lady Bulldogs configured 14 runs off of 13 hits. Shaw’s pitcher #26 Crystal Saunders (5 – 5 / Junior / R/R / Raleigh, NC / Mass Communications) was tagged with the loss as she pitched all five innings. Barton’s starter pitcher, #9 Jayme Beacham picked up the win.

On the second time around, the Lady Bears picked up the intensity to total five hits and held Barton to be scoreless in the top of the third inning. Shaw came to the plate in the bottom of the third and received its first score of the game via a solo, leadoff homerun from two-sport student-athlete, #22 Monica Grimmage (5 – 10 / Freshman / 1B/P / Georgetown, SC / Education). Two innings later, Grimmage returned to connect for her second homerun. Nevertheless, Barton doubled the home team’s homerun total as they tallied 11 hits for a total of 13 runs. The victory was awarded to the Lady Bulldog’s pitcher #18 Alona Lawson as Saunders was given the loss.