FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 9, 2014) – The Stevens Institute of Technology softball team opened their 2014 season on Sunday with a double-header split that included a 5-3 win over Salem State University (1-4), and a 1-0 loss to Kenyon College (10-1).

The Ducks will be back in action tomorrow with a 1 p.m. game against Saint Mary's College, followed by a 3 p.m. game with Mount Mary University

Stevens 5, Salem State 3

Sophomore Gavriella Risman-Jones got the Ducks scoring going in the first with an infield single followed by a steal. Jamie DeGennaro moved Risman-Jones to third with a ground-out to second, and freshman Jessica Rees singled her in with a ground ball to center.

The run held up for four innings as Junior Brianna Sandone carved through the Salem State line-up, retiring nine straight at one point from the second through the third.

Stevens padded their lead in the fifth when Rees picked up her second RBI of the game with a single to score senior Danielle DeFeo. Sophomore Sydney Spitz added another run with a single to score Risman-Jones before freshman Emily Sellitti blasted a two-run triple to extend Sevens' lead to 5-0.

Salem State would battle back however, adding a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth off a Jenn Toussaint triple. Sandone settled down though, and with the tying runs on in the bottom of the seventh, induced a ground ball and fly-out to end the game.

The freshmen Rees and Sellitti each had two RBIs in their collegiate debuts, and Sandone picked up her first win of the season.

Kenyon College 1, Stevens 0

Despite a dominant pitching performance from senior Kayla Berardi, the Ducks were unable to get to Kenyon's Maddy Stark who come into the game with 0.91 ERA.

Berardi, who missed the entire 2013 season with a broken foot, carried a no-hitter through 5.2 innings before giving up a single to Danielle Elizarraraz. The game went scoreless into the seventh until Molly O'Connor singled home Toni Miller.

The Ducks threatened in the seventh after freshman Kelly Klewicki singled with one out, but Stark bore down and retired the next two.

Be sure to follow the team during their trip with live stats on stevensducks.com and on Twitter @stevensducks.