Seniors, USF supporting combine to secure home sweep

Thurs., April 17, 2008

FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Cassie Steinbrunner didn't waste any time getting revenge.

Along with 'Senior Day' it was 'Opening Day' for the University of Saint Francis softball team, and the senior pitcher wasn't about to be upstaged.

After yielding a game-tying home run in the top the second inning to Grace College freshman Hilary Kizer, Steinbrunner regained the lead with a lead-off solo homer into Leesburg Road in the bottom of the second and USF pulled away late for a 9-2 win in Game 1 Thursday afternoon.

In Game 2 on a warm, breezy, mostly sunny picture-perfect weather day that brought out a large crowd of USF support, the Lady Cougars rallied from a 5-3 deficit to win 6-5.

"That felt great," Steinbrunner said in between games. She hadn't hit a home run since her freshman season when she belted three. "I've focused on pitching and just haven't batted much since my first season."

She didn't pitch too shabby either squirming out of two jams, one in the fifth and then again in the sixth with ground out to Heather Raesky at third with the bases loaded.