Northfield, Minn. – Caitlyn Cornell allowed but three hits, struck out 10 and passed the 300-strikeout mark for her career, but a key Carleton College error in the first allowed three unearned runs to score as the Knights were knocked off by the College of St. Catherine, 4-3.
Cornell notched her sixth game with 10 or more strikeouts this season and became only the third Carleton pitcher with 300 or more strikeouts in a career. Her 305 strikeouts is four away from surpassing Andrea Carroll '03 for second on Carleton's all-time list. It marked the second time in as many days Cornell's fanned 10 batters.
The loss came in Carleton's final home game of 2005. The game was a make-up of the back half of a doubleheader originally played on Tuesday, April 26. The Wildcats won that game 4-1.
The first inning was a wild affair. The Wildcats (20-17, 9-11 MIAC) scored all their runs with two outs, getting a one-out single, a walk and two-out infield hit to load the bases. A walk, one of four issued by Cornell, forced home one run. A sinking liner to left field looked like it would end the threat, but the Knights couldn't make the play and all three runners scored.
Carleton (11-20, 8-12 MIAC) answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Amanda Espinosa walked to lead off the frame, Jamie Lykken singled and Vickie Gunderson nearly hit her fourth homer of the year, sending a moon shot to the wall in center, which was caught but advanced Espinosa to third. Leslie Barry singled to left to score Espinosa, and when the leftfielder bobbled the ball, Lykken raced home as well.
Both Cornell and St. Kate's starting pitcher Jessica Lewandowski settled down after the first, cruising through the next four innings. Carleton pulled within a run in the sixth when Erica Bolan sliced a triple over the rightfielder's head, driving home pinch-runner Rhemi Abrams-Fuller, who replaced Leslie Barry after the senior's one-out double.
Carleton had one final chance in the seventh. Shayna Simmons ripped a one-out single to left, her second hit of the day, and Espinosa worked Lewandowksi for a walk. Lykken's groundout to shortstop put the potential game-winning run in scoring position at second, but Carleton was unable to get the two-out hit, suffering its eighth consecutive defeat.
Cornell (8-12) was the hard-luck loser, allowing but one earned run. Barry was 2-for-3 with a double and RBI for the Knights, who honored their three seniors - Barry, Gunderson and Espinosa - before the game. It marked Carleton's final home gmae of 2005.
The Knights wrap up the season on Saturday, April 30 at the University of St. Thomas. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. in St. Paul.
