WHEELING JESUIT SOFTBALL SWEEPS GANNON

Wheeling, WV, April 2, 2009 --- Brandy Jester pitched a complete game and added two hits and two RBI in the first game, and went four-for-four with a double, a home run, and four RBI in the second game to lead Wheeling Jesuit University to a doubleheader sweep over Gannon University Thursday afternoon.

Jester allowed only seven hits, while striking out nine, in the Cardinals’ 4-3 eight-inning, first game win.

Wheeling Jesuit rallied from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game in the fifth inning when Jester’s two-out single scored Rachelle Carello and Renee Bailey.

The game remained tied until the eighth inning, when Gannon’s Casee Piquet singled to lead off the frame, moved to second on a single by Kara Hensley, and scored on a single by Kadie Ondrus.

But the Cardinals staged their second rally of the game in the bottom of the inning.  Vanessa Ilovar led off with a walk, and moved to second when Gannon misplayed a bunt by Angela Petros, putting runners on first and second.  Courtney Kurowski sacrificed the runners over and Jaime Donato reached on a strikeout and wild pitch, loading the bases.  Rachelle Carello then drove a double to deep center field, scoring two runs and giving Wheeling Jesuit the walk-off win.

Wheeling Jesuit used an offensive onslaught, collecting fifteen hits – seven of which went for extra bases -- to complete the twinbill sweep with a 9-3 second-game win.

Gannon jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the nightcap on a first inning two-run home run by Hensley.

Wheeling Jesuit then exploded for six runs in the second.  With one out, Donato and Carello laced back-to-back doubles, followed by back-to-back singles by Lauren Francis and Bailey.  After a groundout, Jester blasted a three-run homer, and Ilovar made it back-to-back roundtrippers two pitches later, staking the Cardinals to a 6-2 lead.

Carello hit her second double of the game in the third inning, driving home Kurowski.

The Cardinals completed their scoring in the fifth, with an RBI single by Jester and a run-scoring groundout by Ilovar.

Olivia Wamsley pitched the complete game victory, yielding ten hits and striking out three, without walking a batter.

With the wins, Wheeling Jesuit improved to 12-13. Gannon fell to 13-14.

Wheeling Jesuit is scheduled to return to action with a conference doubleheader at West Virginia State University on Friday.