DOYLESTOWN (PA) –
Becky Furman pitched a no-hitter in the first game while
Bethany Pavlik broke the school's all-time record for RBIs as Delaware Valley College swept a non-conference doubleheader from visiting Philadelphia Biblical University, 9-0 and 9-1. Both games were called in the fifth inning due to the eight-run mercy rule.
The twinbill sweep snapped a four-game losing streak for the Aggies as they improved to 13-16 on the season. They will wrap up the 2010 campaign by hosting Freedom Conference foe Wilkes University for Senior Day on Saturday, May 1 (1:00 p.m.)
One of those seniors is Pavlik and the three-time all-conference entered Tuesday's doubleheader tied with 2008 gradate and former teammate Nicole Dornery for the Delaware Valley career marks in both home runs (19) and RBIs (95). She had numerous opportunities in both games, but was just 1-4 with three walks when she came to the plate with two on and two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning of the nightcap.
Pavlik drilled a Courtney Erndl to deep left field and it appeared as if both records would become her own on the one hit. However, high winds kept the shot in the ballpark and it landed on the warning track. Both runs crossed the plate to give Pavlik the RBI record and complete the sweep with the 9-1 lead and the mercy rule.
Delaware Valley struck for five runs in the opening inning of the nightcap, including a two-run single by
Greer McComas, and never looked back. The team finished with just five hits in the contest, but took advantage of 11 walks and three Crimson Eagle (11-21) errors.
Maggie Kichler picked up the win as she allowed just one unearned run and four hits in the five innings.
The opener belonged to Furman as the sophomore hurled her second no-hitter of the season and the third for the team. Furman and fellow sophomore
Keri Hardiman combined for a no-no in the second game of the year against University of Minnesota-Crookston and McComas followed the next day with one of her own against Mount Mary College. Furman finished with three walks allowed and six strikeouts against Philadelphia Biblical while improved her season record to 4-3.
The Aggies scored in each of the four innings they batted in with three runs in the first, three in the second, one in the third and two more in the fourth. They finished with just five hits again, but two Crimson Eagle pitchers combined to walk 13 batters. Hardiman was 1-for-3 with three RBIs while
Sarah Lazar and
Dani Walton had two RBIs apiece.