WEEHAWKEN, N.J. (April 7, 2012) – The Stevens Institute of Technology softball team won a wild back-and-forth 6-5 nightcap of their doubleheader with Utica College on Saturday to earn a split and run its record to 3-1 in the Empire 8. Jamie DeGennaro (Pearl River, N.Y.) hit a game-tying two-run homer in the fifth inning and Noreen Jordan (Orangeburg, N.Y.) added the game-winning RBI later in the frame for the Ducks.

Game One

Danielle DeFeo (Andover, N.J.) reached on an error and Kayla Berardi (Brookfield, Conn.) and Clair Strom (El Paso, Texas) each worked remarkable 13-pitch walks to load the bases for the Ducks in their opening at-bat. But a linedrive double play ended the Stevens threat and the first inning was scoreless.

Utica then scored a run on Hayley Butler's two-out double to make the score 1-0.

The Ducks got it right back in the home half of the inning; Jordan led off with a double that hopped over the fence in rightfield, and Kendel Aurand (McVeytown, Pa.) beat out a grounder to short with two outs that allowed Jordan to score the tying run.

The Pioneers went on to score four runs - all with two outs - in the third inning to re-take the lead 5-1 in the middle of the third.

Utica tacked on another run in the fourth inning to increase their cushion to 6-1.

Stevens responded when Stephanie Senkevich (Washington, N.J.) took the first pitch of the fourth inning and deposited it over the wall in leftfield for a solo homerun, her first bomb of the season.

Utica continued to swing the bats well, however, plating three more runners in the fifth and two in the sixth to move in front 11-2. Ultimately they would win by the same score after six innings via the run rule.

Game Two

The Pioneers scored an unearned run the top of the first, but the Ducks struck back as DeFeo, DeGennaro and Strom all had hits in the inning and tied the match at one-all.

After an uneventful second, DeFeo doubled down the leftfield line to start the Stevens third. After a sacrifice by Aurand, DeGennaro lifted a ball to deep center that was dropped. It would have scored the run, but also allowed the freshman to scamper to second base with one out. Strom then singled to deep center and Senkevich drove in another run with a sacrifice fly as the Ducks took their first lead of the day, 3-1.

The Pioneers would not stand for the Duck lead, as they scored four runs on three hits in their next turn at bat to jump back in front 5-3 midway through the fifth.

Despite the new deficit the Ducks were undeterred. DeFeo led off the fifth with a bunt single and DeGennaro launched a bomb down the leftfield line that stayed fair as it sailed over the fence for a dramatic game-tying two-run homer. Strom and Senkevich kept the rally going with a hit and a walk, respectively, and then Noreen Jordan put Stevens back in front 6-5 after her RBI single.

In the sixth, Utica put the leadoff runner on but the sacrifice attempt was popped up to DeGennaro. She made the catch and tried to double up the runner at first. The ball instead went into rightfield, but Jordan picked it up and nailed the runner trying to move to the second for an unconventional but happily accepted 5-3-9-6 double play.

Save for the four-run hiccup in the fifth inning, Stevens starter Brianna Sandone (Haddon Twp., N.J.) pitched brilliantly and did not allow an earned run in her six other innings of work. She gae up 11 hits but was able to pitch around them, helped by the fact that she did not walk a batter and was the beneficiary of some nice plays in centerfield by Sarah Parker.

DeFeo was 4-for-4 in game two and Strom was 3-for-3 as the pair combined to score four runs. DeGennaro drove in three runs for the Ducks.

Stevens will play again on Tuesday, when they team hosts cross-river rival Hunter College beginning at 3 p.m.

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