UTICA, N.Y. (April 30, 2011) – Despite a three-run homerun in the second game from sophomore catcher Clair Strom, the Stevens Institute of Technology softball team dropped two tight contests with league rival Utica College on Saturday afternoon, by scores of 7-6 and 11-9. On a bright note for the Ducks, action elsewhere in the Empire 8 allowed the team to clinch a bid to the Empire 8 playoffs in just their second year of existence.
Game 1
The Ducks built an early lead in game one, scoring two runs in the first, another pair in the second and a single run in the third to take a 5-0 lead. A two-run double by Naomi Sacks brought in Kayla Berardi and Danielle DeFeo in the first inning. Stevens scored in the second frame on an error following a Lauren Hurley double to center and another Kayla Berardi single. Berardi earned an RBI in the third by working a bases-loaded walk after Hurley and Sarah Parker singled earlier in the inning.
Berardi was also pitching well for the Ducks over the first half of the game, holding the Pioneers scoreless through three. But a single run in the fourth was a bad omen as Utica would double its production over the following two innings, scoring two in the fifth and four more in the home half of the sixth.
The Ducks bats got comparatively cold, though they were able to push a run across in the fifth after Victoria Webber led off with a double to left-center and scored on an error.
Noreen Jordan singled for Stevens in the seventh, but the Pioneers would hold on to their 7-6 lead and take game one in comeback fashion.
Game 2
The Ducks drew first blood again in the second contest, scoring an unearned run in their first turn at bat following a Berardi walk and a Sacks single.
This time, however, Utica replied more swiftly; scoring three runs in the bottom half of the first off of Stevens starter Molly Herforth.
The teams traded scoreless second frames before Utica added one more tally in the third inning.
The Ducks answered that one in their next turn at bat, as Parker, Hurley and Berardi knocked back-to-back-to-back singles to drive in a run. Herforth held the Pioneers down in the bottom of the inning.
Both teams scored two in the fifth; the Ducks on four hits from Clair Strom (who was 4-for-5 in game two), Webber, Jordan and Hurley, which momentarily tied the game. Utica capitalized on two Duck errors in the bottom half of the inning to re-take the lead at 6-4.
Herforth and DeFeo began the Stevens sixth with clean base hits before Clair Strom launched her fifth homerun of the season that gave Stevens the 7-6 lead and knocked Stephanie Romanow (New Hartford, N.Y.) out of the circle. Webber and Jordan also singled in the inning, though the Ducks could not score any insurance runs.
The small lead would hurt Stevens, as the Pioneers roared back with five in the bottom of the inning to re-take the lead at 11-7.
The Ducks did mounte a brave comeback in the final frame. Berardi walked to lead things off, and Strom came through with an RBI single. Danielle DeFeo scored on a wild pitch but it was not enough as Utica held on for the 11-9 win and the sweep.
The Ducks will wrap up the regular season at home on Wednesday when they host SUNY-Old Westbury at 3 p.m. Then the team will head to Ithaca College for their first-ever Empire 8 Tournament games on Friday. Game time will be announced at StevensDucks.com.
