Hletko's No-Hitter Propels Eagles to 8-0 Win Over Albany

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla.- Behind a no-hitter from junior pitcher Michelle Hletko (Westmont, Ill.-Westmont), the Eastern Michigan University softball team won its opening game of the USF “The Game” Tournament, Feb. 20. The Eagles defeated Albany, 8-0, in five innings to win their first game of 2009.

Hletko threw the 11th no-hitter in EMU history and the first since Michelle Lloyd accomplished the feat against the University of Michigan, May 3, 2006. The junior stuck out two batters while relying on a stellar defensive effort by the Eagles.

Junior Jenny Scherer (Stow, Ohio-Stow-Munroe) went 2-for-2 at the plate with three RBI, including her first home run of the season. She now has 23 for her career, leaving her only one behind the career mark of 24. Sophomore Stacie Skodinski (South Bend, Ind.-Washington) went 3-for-3 with three RBI in a game that saw seven Eagles record hits.

The Eagles put two runs up in the first inning when Skodinski singled up the middle to score McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover), who reached base on a single, and Jenny Scherer, who drew a walk. In the bottom half of the inning, Scherer made a diving catch in centerfield to keep the Great Danes off the bases, keeping the Eagles up 2-0.

EMU kept the offensive momentum going in the second frame, putting another three runs on the board to go up 5-0. The Eagles' bats continued to stay hot, notching another run in the third off a Skodinski double. Scherer then came through with a two-run home run in the fourth inning to increase the lead to 8-0. Hletko took care of the rest, no-hitting the Great Danes to end the game in five innings.

The Eagles continue the first day of action at the USF “The Game” Tournament, Feb. 20, with a contest against the host school, South Florida, at 4 p.m.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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