Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va.—Junior Ashley Garvey went three-for-four with five RBI to lead the Cornell softball team past Akron 12-3 in six innings on Saturday afternoon at the George Mason Invitational. Cornell opens its 2009 season with a 2-0 mark. Garvey and Meg Risica both notched home runs.

Garvey added a triple and a double to her home run to round out her stellar afternoon at the plate. Senior Jessy Berkey also had a triple for Cornell, while Elise Menaker added a double. Sophomore Ali Tomlinson earned the win for Cornell on the mound with three strikeouts.

Akron was led by Amber Lowe, Julie Boyes and Monica Shorter who each went two-for-three at the plate. Andrea Arney took the loss for Akron.

The two teams were scoreless after two innings. Akron struck first in the bottom of the third when a runner reached second on a Cornell fielding error. The Zips notched their first run when Boyes doubled to right center field.

In the top of the fourth, Devon March walked to reach first, and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Alyson Intihar. Menaker walked and Garvey drove in two runs with a double to left center. With two outs, Berkey tripled to left to drive in a third run, and she scored on a fielding error.

Heather Bauer came in to pitch for Arney in the top of the fifth. With two outs and Risica on first, Intihar drove in another run for Cornell with a single to left field. She advanced to second on the throw and scored off a double to center by Menaker. Garvey tripled to center to earn Cornell's third run of the inning.

Akron looked to rally back in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Lowe singled to center and stole second base. Boyes followed with a single of her own to put Lowe on third. The Zips' base runner was thrown out at second trying to steal, but Lowe scored on the throw. Feltes singled to left and advanced to third on an error. With a single to shortstop, Feltes scored Akron's second run. Hansen grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning.

The Big Red bats came on strong again in the top of the sixth. Cheever reached first on a walk and Katie Watts came in to run. Morgan Cawley reached base on an Akron error. Both runners scored on fielding errors to clear the bases. Risica scored the Big Red's third tally of the inning with a solo homer to left field. March would reach base on another error before Garvey homers to right center to put Cornell up 12-3.

Cornell held its opponent scoreless in the sixth with Lauren Marx coming in to pitch, and the freshman struck out two batters. With over an eight run lead, the Big Red earned a six-inning victory.

The Big Red will play two more games on Sunday afternoon facing George Mason and Penn.