Athenas Sweep Pomona-Pitzer
The CMS Athenas pounded out 23 hits and 22 runs in a dominating win over cross-campus rival Pomona-Pitzer Saturday. Final scores were 10-0 (in five innings) and 12-8. The sweep marked the opening of 2011 SCIAC play and moved the Athenas to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in conference.
Offensive highlights were relentless. Freshman Rebecca Ciszewski (Orangevale) [pictured right] notched her first collegiate home-run with a 240' towering shot to left-center. Overall, the rookie powerhouse went 3 for 7, scored 3 runs and drove in another 4. Amanda Banducci (SO, San Mateo) also crushed her first collegiate home run unleashing a rope to left that vacated the park very quickly. Her results on the day were 3 for 7, 1 run scored, with 2 RBIs. She pitched 3.1 dominant innings in relief, giving up neither a hit nor a run in 11 batters faced.
Sophomore sensation Harmony Palmer (Oceanside) blasted 2 more home runs (3 for the season) and put up another impressive line going 3 for 6, scoring 4 runs, and driving in 4 others. Rookie Olivia Jacobs (FR, Shoreline, WA) did damage as well going 4 for 7, with 4 runs scored.
Megan Morris (JR, Ridgewood, NJ) [pictured left], previously best known for her speed, debuted her power hitting with a bases loaded triple to right center. With the score tied at four, her gap shot broke the game open kicking off a five run inning Pomona-Pitzer did not recover from.
Seniors Michelle Harvey (San Diego) and Gizelle Pera (Los Angeles), consistent, tenacious offensive producers, combined for five hits, 4 runs, five RBIs and 2 stolen bases.
The Athenas were equally impressive defensively. In the circle for Game 1, Emma Friedenberg (JR, Danville) pitched a keenly efficient game, facing only 18 batters in five innings for the win. Friedenberg is now 3-0 with a 0.74 ERA. In game two, Rebecca Gularte (JR, Sunnyvale) threw 3 and 2/3 innings giving up 4 runs before Banducci replaced her in relief. Banducci, Friedenberg, and Gularte make a formidable trio of pitchers dedicated to getting better every day. Olivia Jacobs, when not playing first, will see time in the circle as well shoring up CMS' depth at this position.
Save for two miscues in the infield, the squad played error free ball that included several web-gems.
You can see the Athenas play again this Saturday, February 19th in another SCIAC double-header against Occidental College. Games are at home and begin at noon.