Published: February 19, 2008 04:07 pm         

MSU softball swings to a 4-0 start

FARMVILLE, Va. - Sophomore pitcher Sarah Funston tossed a one-hitter, and sophomore Alex Gjevre threw a two-hitter while senior Kari Quinn went 7-for-8 at the plate and also recorded a save Sunday as the Morehead State softball team defeated Bucknell (3-1) and host Longwood University (7-2) to finish the Longwood Lancer Leadoff Classic undefeated at 4-0.

In the first game of the day against Bucknell, Funston tossed the first five innings, giving way to Quinn in the sixth after MSU scored twice to take the 3-1 lead into the bottom of the inning. Funston, a Santa Claus, Ind., native, only just one Bison hit and walked only one while recording two strikeouts. Quinn, meanwhile, closed the door allowing one hit in the final two frames with a strikeout. It was her fourth career save after tossing a seven-inning no-hitter the day before.

At the plate, Quinn also did some of the damage, going 3-for-3 with a double. The Eagles collected eight hits during the game, getting a 2-for-3, two-stolen base day from junior Bri Jones. Senior Korey Ellis caught the entire game and produced a 2-for-2 effort in the batter's box.

The eventual game-winning hit went to Korey's sister, however, sophomore Bethany Ellis. In the sixth inning, Quinn singled and was pinch ran for by freshman Heather Widner. Korey Ellis singled up the middle to push Widner to second base. Bethany Ellis stepped in and delivered a one-out double to right field that plated Widner and her older sister. Funston moved to 1-0 on the season.

In the tournament's final game, the Eagles smashed nine hits and plated seven runs against the host Longwood Lancers while also picking up a win despite four fielding errors. Gjevre ran her record to 2-0 with her second consecutive complete game win. She allowed just two hits and no earned runs.

Quinn completed her near-perfect day in the batters' box with a 3-for-4 performance, while sophomore catcher Bianca Cardenas went 2-for-3 with a three-run double. Freshman third baseman Rebecca Butler hit 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while infielders Brandy Bucher and Allie Honkofsky rounded out the nine Eagle hits.

The hosts scored twice in the first inning via three Morehead State errors. But, the Eagles regrouped and took a 4-2 lead in the third inning on Cardenas' two-out double that scored Quinn, Bucher and Butler. Butler added an RBI single in the fourth, and Bucher closed the scoring in the sixth with a two-run double.

The Eagles will take their umblemished record to Southaven, Miss., next weekend as the University of Memphis hosts the Blues City Classic. MSU will face Memphis, Evansville, Alabama A&M, Arkansas Pine-Bluff and OVC foe Southeast Missouri in a non-league game.