WEEHAWKEN, N.J. (March 31, 2010) – The Stevens Institute of Technology softball team used a three-run seventh inning to come from behind and defeat Rutgers University – Newark by a score of 7-6 in game one of a doubleheader on Wednesday. The Ducks got four consecutive hits in the seventh inning from Naomi Sacks, Clair Strom, Sarah Parker and Denise Wagner to push across three runs and earn their second walk-off victory in three games. The Ducks (3-11) fell to the Scarlet Raiders (7-7) 13-0 in the nightcap.
In the first game, the Stevens starter Amanda Petrocelli held RU scoreless in the top half of the first and Duck leadoff batter Lauren Hurley took the first pitch she saw in the bottom of the inning and sent it screaming off the centerfield wall for a double. Brianna Sticco followed with a double to center of her own, quickly making the score 1-0 in favor of the Ducks. Sacks followed with a single and Stevens would score Sticco on a double play groundout to make the score 2-0 after one.
The Scarlet Raiders played small-ball to score a run in the top of the second using two walks, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI groundout by Ashley Angeli (Teaneck, N.J.) to cut the Stevens lead in half.
The Ducks scored again in the third via a leadoff double from Sacks, which ticked off the red barrier on the very top of the centerfield fence, but stayed in play. It was one of four hits on the day for the senior captain. After Strom moved Sacks to third with a groundout, Parker lifted a fly ball to center deep enough to score the runner and move the Stevens cushion back to two runs.
Rutgers - Newark would score two runs in the fifth to tie the game, before the freshman Strom delivered a solo homerun- the first of her collegiate career- over the centerfield fence in the bottom half of the inning to give Stevens the lead once again.
The Scarlet Raiders stormed right back with two runs in the sixth to take a one-run lead and added one more insurance run in the seventh to make the score 6-4 with the Ducks down to their final three outs.
Sacks got the rally started, leading off the inning with a hard-hit single up the middle. Strom then doubled up the middle on the next pitch, chasing home Sacks for an RBI. The next batter, Sarah Parker, singled to short centerfield, putting the tying run on third, the winning run on first and knocking Rutgers starter Samantha Veneziano (North Arlington, N.J.) out of the game. Junior Denise Wagner then singled to the left-centerfield gap, driving in Strom. While Wagner's hit was being misplayed in the outfield, Parker raced around the bases and scored the game-winning run all the way from first for the Ducks, who had scored three runs without an out in the epic bottom of the seventh.
With the win in game one, Petrocelli now has two wins in as many outings for the Ducks.
In the second game, the Scarlet Raiders took over early, scoring two runs in the first inning, one in the second and three more in the third to take a 6-0 lead after three. Meanwhile, Rutgers starter Angela Riscinti (Linden, N.J.) held the Ducks to just four hits and no runs during the contest.
Stevens had its best chance to score with a two out rally in the bottom of the third, where Hurley walked and Brianna Sticco and Sacks followed with singles to load the bases, but the team could not capitalize on the opportunity.
Both teams were scoreless through the next three innings before RU put the game out of reach by plating seven runs in the seventh, including four a grand slam by Amber Affholter (Trenton, Mich.) to make the final score 13-0 in favor of the Scarlet Raiders.
Parker and Maggie Weigel knocked the other two hits for Stevens in the second game.
Stevens will travel to Ithaca College on Saturday, April 3 to play their first ever Empire 8 games. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 12 p.m.
