[3/2/04]An error-plagued defense spoiled a fine pitcher’s duel and kept St. Aloysius from its third division win against Salem at Bazinsky Field on Monday night.

St. Al (3-1, 2-1 in Division 7-1A) gave up only two hits, but allowed four unearned runs on eight errors in a 4-0 loss to Salem (1-0, 1-0).

“We just made a bunch of errors,” St. Al coach Gene Rogillio said. “They didn’t have one earned run.”

Salem pitcher Alex Pigott threw a complete-game shutout with 15 strikeouts, and St. Al pitcher Laura Beth Lyons also pitched a complete game and struck out 14.

The game went scoreless until the fourth inning, when two errors on a bunt allowed Salem’s Pamela Martin to circle the bases. Four more errors in the seventh allowed three more runs to score, also on bunts.

“We put the ball in play where they had to make a play,” Salem’s Coach Martin said. “and that’s what counts.”

The Lady Flashes had only two real scoring opportunities, and were unable to capitalize on either.

In the fourth inning, Candice Park drew a walk, Pigott’s only one of the game, and Sarah Franco’s base hit put runners on first and second with two outs. However, the next batter struck out to end the threat.

In the sixth, Mary Myers Franco singled with two outs, and Candice Park reached on an error. Pigott again pitched out of trouble, striking out the next batter to end the inning.

St. Al’s only other hit of the night was Sarah Kerut’s first-inning single.