United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Softball - Perry Fires One-Hitter for 50th Career Win as Bears Split

WELLESLEY, MASS.--(4/1/07)--Coast Guard Academy used a two-run first and a dominant pitching performance from Colleen Perry to defeat Wellesley College 2-1 in the opening game of the day and snap a four-game losing streak before Wellesley won the nightcap by the same 2-1 score for a split of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) doubleheader.

In the opening game, Coast Guard loaded the bases in the top of the first, and Colleen Denny singled, driving in Jeannie Crump and Annette Boston for a 2-0 lead. As both Perry and Kristie Gola settled into a groove, the score remained unchanged until the bottom of the sixth, when Alex Houghtalin led off with Wellesley's first and only hit of the game, a double to deep center field. Houghtalin advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Amanda Tai and then scored on a throwing error from left field, after a long foul out off the bat of Alex Coari. Perry slammed the door on the Blue by striking out Megan Wood to end the sixth, then retiring the home team in order in the seventh to record her 50th career win.

Coast Guard was led in the first game by Boston with two hits, and Crump and Denny with one hit each. Denny accounted for both RBIs. Perry held the Blue to just one run on one hit, while fanning four. Houghtalin accounted for the Blue’s sole hit and run. Gola struck out three while giving up four hits in the loss.

In the second game of the day, Jenna Harvey fired a one-hitter while striking out 15 as Wellesley won 2-1. The Blue scored one run on three hits in the bottom of the first, as Coari, Wood, and Harvey each singled. Harvey then took over from the mound, fanning 14 batters through the first six innings, while allowing only one hit. But in the top of the seventh, two Wellesley miscues allowed Coast Guard to tie the game at 1-1. Wellesley bounced back in the bottom of the inning, as Tai singled, then advanced to second on a passed ball. Ilana Orloff bounced into a fielder's choice that moved Tai to third. Coari followed with a perfectly placed bunt to drive in the winning run.

Coast Guard's only hit in game two came off the bat of Leanna Minton. Keely Balthrop scored the run. The Blue totaled eight hits in the game, including two each from Coari, Harvey, and Wood.