ITHACA, N.Y. (April 28, 2012) – Though the Stevens Institute of Technology softball team was swept by Ithaca College, the Ducks qualified for the Empire 8 Championship on Saturday thanks to Alfred University's sweep of Utica College elsewhere in upstate New York. Stevens dropped 3-0 and 6-0 contests to the Bombers, who finished with a perfect 12-0 conference record.

Stevens can become the league's number three seed with a sweep of Alfred on Sunday in the final games of the Empire 8 and earn a date with number two seed St. John Fisher College (27-9, 8-4). If they lose one or two games tomorrow, they will take on top seed Ithaca (25-11, 12-0) in a rematch of last season's opening-round classic that went 13 innings.

On Saturday, the Ducks managed just four total hits over the two games. Danielle DeFeo (Andover, N.J.), Clair Strom (El Paso, Texas) and Stephanie Senkevich (Washington, N.J.) got base hits in the first game.

In game two, a  two-out single to centerfield by Jamie DeGennaro (Pearl River, N.Y.) in the fourth inning was the only thing preventing a perfect game as the Ducks did not have another baserunner in the game.

Kayla Berardi (Brookfield, Conn.) continued to pitch effectively for Stevens, throwing nine total innings on Saturday and allowing just 4 earned runs to keep the Ducks in both contests.

Stevens will take on Alfred University Sunday at 1 p.m. in the aforementioned final Empire 8 games of the regular season.

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