Eagles Shut Down Pioneers Softball, 6-0 and 8-0
April 16, 2003

By Joe Monaco, AU Sports Information

Complete Box Scores
Game 1     Game 2

Former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Derek Bell announced that he was starting “Operation Shutdown” last season for not being named a starter.

Juniors Josie Nelson (Prior Lake, MN/Jordan) and Leslie Eberhardt (Jeromesville, OH/Hillsdale) went ahead with their own version of “Operation Shutdown” – but their version came at the cost of the Malone Pioneer hitters.

The duo combined to allow only two hits and zero runs in an Eagles sweep of Malone, 6-0 and 8-0, at Brookside Park on Wednesday (Apr. 16) to improve their record to 32-10.

In the second game, Eberhardt threw her first career no-hitter and struck out five hitters as the Eagles won in five innings. She improved her record to 13-6.

Sophomore catcher Mandy Sansbury (Ripley, WV) drilled three hits and collected one RBI while Laurie Black (Canal Winchester, OH/Bloom-Carroll), Sara Mathes (Massillon, OH/Jackson) and Katie Weyand (Wadsworth, OH) each added two hits apiece. Black also had two RBI and scored one run while Mathes knocked in one run and scored one run.

In game one, Nelson struck out 13 hitters on her way to a complete game two-hitter. She is 19-4 on the season.

Mathes connected on a solo home run in the third inning to lead the Eagles. Nelson, Shay Mulford (Plainfield, OH/Ridgewood) and Nicole Placie (Cridersville, OH/Wapakoneta) each added two hits and scored one run apiece. Mulford had a double and knocked in two runs.

AU will be in action on Friday against GLIAC opponent Mercyhurst with game time slated for 3 p.m.