FXFowle Series Goes To A Third Game

A two-game sweep narrowly slipped through the grasp of the combined Pei Cobb Freed/Hart Howerton softball team, last night, as they lost Game 1 to FXFowle 8-7 in extra innings before taking Game 2 in five official innings, 9-2.

PCF/HH took an early 4-0 lead after one and extended it to 5-0 through three innings before faltering on the defensive end and allowing 6 runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Black and Red knotted the game in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Sagastume (scoring J. Strong) and had a chance at the lead when Carl Pearson tripled with two outs in the seventh. The team scored their go-ahead run in the top of the eighth, on an RBI single by Juan Monahan that scored Addie Rodriguez. But, with 1 out, FXFowle wouldn't be denied as they hit consecutive base hits and scored their game-tying and game-winning runs on a double by third baseman Greg Epstein.

Seeking revenge, and not content to allow their season to set with the evening sun, PCF/HH fired right back in Game 2. After a scoreless first, The Black and Red chalked up 2 runs in the second and 5 runs in the third on a tired FXFowle team. With the game official after four innings and a 7-0 score, darkness began to creep in on both teams, as each exchanged 2 runs apiece before the game was called.

Pearson, the leadoff hitter and right fielder, led his team offensively and made a number of key outs in the field. Pearson finished the first two games 5-for-6 with a double, a triple, and 3 runs scored. Rodriguez went 3-for-5 on the night including 2 doubles, 1 sacrifice fly, 2 RBI, and 4 runs scored. Sagastume also went 3-for-5, contributing 2 triples, 1 sac fly, 5 RBI, and 1 run. Monahan, who was battered up a bit from the mound, made his usual solid contribution from the plate with 5 hits on 7 at-bats. Monahan doubled, drove in 2 runs and scored 2 of his own. Representing the league's women players very respectfully was Shadie Wiland, who was 3-for-5 with 1 run scored.

The 9-2 victory sets up a win-or-go-home Game 3 for PCF/HH. Game time is 5:30 p.m. at Central Park's Hecksher Field 1, on Thursday.

The combined team of SOM/Swanke/Cooper wrapped up their quarterfinal series against Polshek Partnership last night, advancing to the semifinals, where they will take on back-to-back champions Gensler starting tomorrow. SSC swept their series with 3-1 and 6-4 victories.