Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 STEUBENVILLE, OH – A huge day from Jenn Stefano propelled the Chatham University Softball team to their first two victories of the 2013 season, 11-3 (five innings) and 6-5 victories over Franciscan University on Wednesday.  Stefano went 4-7 from the plate on the day, scoring four runs and recording eight RBI.
 
After falling behind 3-0 in the first inning in the opener, the Cougars (2-10) scored in every inning to secure the 11-3 victory.  Leigha Pehrson and Ashley Lamb drove in runs in the second and third innings, respectively, before a breakout fourth inning gave Chatham the lead.  In the fourth, Elise Zavadak doubled, scoring Pehrson to tie the game.  Stefano then drove in two with a double to give Chatham a 5-3 advantage. 
 
Chatham sealed the victory in the fifth inning, scoring six runs.  After a bases-loaded walk, Stefano tripled, driving in three runs.  She then scored on an Olivia Traini single.
 
Pehrson earned the win on the mound, giving up just four hits and striking out four Franciscan batters.  Every Chatham player recorded at least one hit, led by Stefano, Elizabeth Deckelman, Elizabeth Doman, and Natalie Vazquez with two each. 
 
In game two, it was Franciscan making the comeback.  Chatham took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Doman scored following a Baron error.  Chatham opened a 5-0 lead in the third, following back-to-back home runs by Stefano and Traini.  That lead moved to 6-1 with a Traini RBI in the fifth.  The Barons made it close, however, with two runs in the bottom of the fifth and two more in the bottom of the seventh, but were unable to complete the comeback.
 
Doman and Stefano both went 2-4 at the plate and scored two runs.  Stefano added three RBI.  Traini went 2-4 with one run scored and two RBI, while picking up the win on the mound.  She allowed nine hits and struck out four.
 
Chatham will return to action on Saturday, March 23, with their 2013 home opener against Penn State-New Kensington.  The doubleheader will begin at 2:00pm.
 
-COUGARS-
 
Chatham University, founded in 1869, is located in the vibrant Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA. Preparing students from around the world, Chatham's enrollment throughout the past decade was the fastest growing in the Pittsburgh region.

Consisting of a historic, undergraduate women's college and graduate and online programs for both men and women, Chatham has consistently been ranked among the top master's level institutions in the Northeast by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review. Offering challenging academics and innovative programming in the fields of sustainability and the environment, the health sciences, and business & entrepreneurship, a Chatham education is designed to meet the needs of tomorrow's economy, today.

Chatham has also demonstrated institutional commitments to reach carbon neutrality by 2025 as a charter signatory of the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment, has been named to The Princeton Review's 2013 Green Honor Roll as one of the most environmentally responsible universities in the U.S. and Canada, received a STARS Gold Rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), and is the alma mater of environmental icon and Silent Spring author, Rachel Carson (class of '29).

For more information, call 800-837-1290 or visit www.chatham.edu.