Hodgson Breaks Single Season Homerun Record on Senior Day
Saturday, May 04, 2013
MAY 4, 2013
PHILADELPHIA – On a beautiful Saturday morning, the La Salle softball squad recognized its senior class prior to the start of its conference doubleheader against the Charlotte 49ers. Accompanied by their parents, seniors Tristan Musho and Liz Reed were honored for their dedication to the team and many accomplishments on and off the field.
The Explorers dropped both games to the 49ers, 8-4 and 7-0, to finish the season with an overall record of 16-31 and an Atlantic 10 conference record of 3-19.
The first game of the day was a thriller as the two teams combined for five homeruns, the first of which came from freshman Kendra Heyer in the first. After Charlotte posted two quick unearned runs to start off the game, Heyer smacked a frozen rope over the right field wall to bring the Explorers within one. That marks the third homerun of Heyer's rookie season. Heyer finished with an impressive .340 batting average, the highest for the Explorers this season.
Charlotte's Jessica Plemmons returned fire with a two-run shot to right to give the 49ers a 4-1 advantage. Sophomore Alicia Aughton reached on a single to left to start up the fifth. Freshman Alyssa Sims came in to pinch run and was quickly driven home on a two-run homerun off the bat of Genevieve Gaynor, once again bringing the Explorers within one of Charlotte.
Freshman pitcher Mary Cate Scott produced a scoreless sixth inning, paving the way for junior Megan Hodgson to set La Salle history. With two outs and empty bases, Hodgson sent a deep, high shot over the head of Charlotte's left fielder and onto the grass beyond the wall. The homerun was her tenth of the season and broke the 31-year-old single season homerun school record of nine set in 1982 by Julie Reidenauer.
In addition, Hodgson tied the all-time career homerun record held by Cecilia Campbell (1984-87) and Mary McGrath (1988-91). Hodgson's two homeruns her freshman year and six her sophomore year combined with ten this season give her a total of 18 in her time at La Salle.
With the game tied at four heading into the final inning, Charlotte's Chelsea Ingersoll blasted a grand slam to left field to give the 49ers an 8-4 lead which was the final score of the game.
Charlotte well outpaced the Explorers in game two, scoring seven runs on 12 hits as La Salle was held to just five hits. One of those hits came from Tristan Musho in the sixth where she belted a single to left center. The hit marked her 30th of the season which triples her total from last season.
Aughton notched one final multi-game hit with a pair of singles coming in the fourth and sixth innings. Sophomore Alyssa Bitsimis and junior Danielle Cullen each picked up singles to end their 2013 season.
Today's games conclude the 2013 season for the Explorers' softball team.
