April 10, 2010

ROME, Ga. - No. 18 Shorter College (Ga.) got a two-run double from senior Hannah Strength in the second inning and was the beneficiary of six unearned runs in the fourth en route to a 9-0 shutout of visiting Columbia College (S.C.) in Southern States Athletic Conference softball action on Friday afternoon.

The game two victory secured a conference sweep for the Lady Hawks, who took game one 9-1. Shorter improves to 31-11 overall and 13-7 in the SSAC with the victories, while Columbia falls to 9-21 overall and 8-16 in league play.

Shorter jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a trio of runs in the second inning - all of which came with two outs. Strength's double to right center plated Bre Johnson and Dandi Ammons and Charlsie Broome followed with an RBI single to center that scored Strength for the early advantage.

Columbia, which committed four errors in the nightcap, simply could not get off the field in the fourth frame, as Shorter scratched for six runs. The Lady Hawks scored three runs as a direct result of those errors, manufactured a run with a beautifully executed double steal by Tiffany Adams and Broome, got an RBI single from Jessica Womble and an RBI double off the fence in left from Ammons to take the 9-0 edge.

Libby Munson gave up just one hit in her five innings of work, needing 62 pitches to improve to 15-3 on the year.

Broome went 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead Shorter's offensive charge in game two.

In the opener, Emily Clements and Womble each went 2-for-2 with two RBI to lead Shorter to an easy victory.

Womble hit a two-run single in the first inning off Columbia starter Samantha Santoro as part of a three-run Lady Hawk frame.

Clements ripped a two-run single to left in the bottom of the fourth to put Shorter up 6-0. The Lady Hawks then induced the eight-run rule in the fifth with three runs, one coming on an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Broome and the final two courtesy of Columbia's misplayed grounder to second.

Jessica Penney turned in a solid effort on the rubber for Shorter. The freshman tossed all five innings allowing one run on three hits, while striking out nine. In her last two games, Penney (13-4) has posted 19 total strikeouts.

Broome finished 2-for-4 in game one for the Lady Hawks, who now turn their attention to an SSAC doubleheader with Brewton-Parker (Ga.) on Saturday at Alto Park. The games begin at 1 p.m. and mark the first-ever Mal's Pals Day.

The Lady Hawks will wear green jerseys to show their support for Mal's Pals, a non-profit organization created by Patrick and Dawn McElhaney to generate awareness and research resources for mitochondrial disease. Fans are encouraged to wear green and will have the opportunity to purchase t-shirts and give donations with all proceeds benefiting Mal's Pals.