BOX SCORE

(LOCK HAVEN, Pa.) Top seeded Lock Haven University cruised to a relatively easy 8-0 shutout over eighth seeded Bowie State University in the opening game of the NCAA Atlantic Softball Region.

Bowie State's Lady Bulldogs went down in order in their half of the first inning. Meredith Norris began Lock Haven's share of the first with a double to right center and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kristen Erb. Norris scored on a wild pitch by BSU's Faline Brown (Inwood, W.Va., Hagerstown C.C.) for the early 1-0 lead. Ilia Lopez stepped to the plate and blasted a solo homerun to left field, giving the host a 2-0 advantage. Amanda Roosa followed that with double to right center. Brown struck out Amanda Gutmaker to end the inning.

Norris hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded, scoring pinch runner Kristen Labant. Erb grounded out pushing Nancy O'Conner across the dish, increasing the Lady Eagles lead to 4-0.

Roosa led off the bottom of the third with her second double of the game then advanced to third on a double by Erica Eisenbise, ending Brown's pitching day with no outs. Erin Clay scored from third on grounder by Brittany Muthard. Lock Haven added two more to the scoreboard on a soft grounder by Judith Popovich, padding the home team lead at 7-0.

Krystin Montoro hit a ground rule double to left in the bottom of the fifth and a O'Conner blooper to short right field scored Montoro to end the game 8-0 via the mercy rule.

Erb sat the Bowie State battery down in order in every inning, recorded 12 strikeouts and did not allow a hit.

Bowie State drops into the loser's bracket and will play Shippensburg tomorrow (5/9) at 12:30 p.m.