CLERMONT, Fla. - Despite a .500 average (5-for-10) by shortstop Nicole Boucher (Woonsocket, R.I.) on the day, the Hawks dropped two out of a possible three games Thursday afternoon at the National Training Center.  The Hawks faced-off against Wilmington (Del.) University (6-3 W), Davenport University (2-1 L) and Gannon University (5-3 L) in three games, collecting a victory against Wilmington in the morning tilt.  Through eight games on their Florida trip, the Hawks feature a 4-4 overall record.

After six full innings of play, the Hawks held a slim 1-0 advantage over the Wildcats of Wilmington University.  An RBI single by Hannah Byrne (Lynn, Mass.) drove in Boucher to plate the game's first run in the top half of the fourth inning as the right fielder, Kinsley Parker, made an error allowing the runner to reach home plate unopposed.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Hawks pitcher Tayla Trask (Lincoln, Maine) allowed an RBI single to center field by Jillian Stafford that plated the game-tying run.  Saint Anselm rallied in the top frame of the eighth inning, however, scoring five runs to secure the early morning victory.  With Monique Gauthier (Canton, Conn.) placed on second to begin the inning, a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Kat Scafidi (Hudson, N.H.) preceded a sacrifice fly by catcher Lauren Galavotti (Marion, Mass.) that drove in Gauthier for the go-ahead run.  

Defensively, two errors and a wild pitch by the Wildcats led to the five-run top half of the eighth inning.  Pitcher Paige Cormier (Rochester, N.H.) allowed an earned run in the bottom half of the inning but was able to induce a game-ending groundout to Stafford to end the contest.

Cormier (3-1) drew her third victory of the season, striking out one batter in 1 1/3 innings of work.  Trask struck out eight Wildcats in 6 2/3 innings pitched, allowing only three hits and one earned run.  For Wilmington, junior Katie Warrington (1-4) drew the loss after allowing four earned runs on six hits alongside nine strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings pitched.  Sophomore hurler Danielle Griffin pitched one-third of an inning, allowing a base hit and a wild pitch.

In the middle game of the day, the Hawks posted a 2-1 loss at the hands of Davenport University.  After four full scoreless innings of action for either side, the Panthers touched up Saint Anselm starter Shannon Dalton (Concord, Mass.) for two runs.  Two RBI singles by sophomore outfielder Amber Getty and senior second baseman Morgan Greenfield plated runs as the Panthers took a 2-0 lead.

Saint Anselm would strike back in the bottom of the sixth inning, as designated player Mary Fay (Stoughton, Mass.) slapped an infield single to third base, driving in Boucher to halve the Davenport advantage.  With two runners in scoring position, a Saint Anselm groundout to the third baseman ended a potential rally situation.

Davenport pitcher Sam Cole (5-1) earned the victory on the rubber, striking out six Saint Anselm batters in only four innings of work.  Senior hurler Katie Despres worked the final three innings, allowing only one hit while striking out three.  Dalton (0-1) drew her first loss of the season, allowing two earned runs on five hits and four strikeouts.  Freshman Hayley Leclaire (Hudson Falls, N.Y.) pitched two solid relief innings, allowing no hits while striking out two.

Against the Golden Knights of Gannon University, the Hawks lost by a 5-3 margin in the last game of the afternoon.  Gannon opened up a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning, as an error by the Hawks on defense with a runner on third led to an unearned run.  Saint Anselm was quick to tie the game at one apiece in the next half inning, as an RBI groundout by right fielder Kristen Peffer (Cumberland, R.I.) plated Galavotti with the game-tying run.

The Golden Knights broke the 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring four runs off of four hits and an error.  A bases-loaded walk by outfielder Katie Killian plated the go-ahead run, while a Samantha Scott base hit drove in an additional run.  The put-away hit in the inning came off of the bat of second baseman Katie Cortazzo as she drove a single that scored two Golden Knights to take a 5-1 lead.  

Saint Anselm did answer with two runs in the top half of the next inning, but were unable to capitalize any further.  Boucher stroked an RBI triple to right field, driving in shortstop Danielle DiBiase (South Portland, Maine) who reached on a Golden Knights error.  The next batter, catcher Noelle Lussier (Worcester, Mass.) drove an RBI triple to right field, scoring Boucher on the play.  A caught-stealing and a fly out to right field ended any further rally by the Hawks.

Pitcher Alexis Bogdanovich (South Portland, Maine) fired 3 1/3 innings for Saint Anselm before exiting the game due to an injury.  Trask pitched 2 2/3 innings in relief for the Hawks, allowing only one earned run alongside only four hits.  Gannon pitcher Erica Bartholow (2-0) collected her second victory of the spring, striking out three Hawks in a complete game performance.
 
NOTABLES: Shortstop Nicole Boucher leads the team in batting average, hitting at a .348 clip (8-for-23) with two extra base hits and four RBI…Boucher has also recorded at least one hit in six of her eight games on the Florida trip…Center fielder Monique Gauthier is tied for the team lead with four runs batted in…On the mound, pitcher Tayla Trask has made a team-leading five appearances on the mound, striking out 21 batters in 21 1/3 innings of work…Third baseman Hannah Byrne is riding a four-game hit streak, collecting four hits in her last 12 at-bats (.333)…With one appearance on the mound today, pitcher Shannon Dalton is tied for eighth place all-time in program history with 51 career appearances for Saint Anselm, tying Allison Borzelli (51 appearances, 1994-95).

The Hawks continue their Florida schedule of games on Friday, Mar. 2 as they face-off against Gannon University for the second time and Davenport University for the third and final time this spring starting at 9:00 p.m. tomorrow.

Join Davenport University sports information director Aaron Sagraves and Saint Anselm College sports information student-assistant Joe Gill as they call the game on the Davenport University Sports Radio Network by clicking here (http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/davenport.portal) tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m.

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