WEEHAWKEN, N.J. (April 17, 2015) – Stevens Institute of Technology freshman softball pitcher Olivia Gemma gave up one run over 10 innings and homered twice to lead the Ducks to 8-7 and 9-0 wins over Houghton College Friday.
 
The wins moved Stevens to 19-6-1 while Houghton fell to 2-20.
 
Stevens 8, Houghton 7
 
Both teams traded zeroes through the first two innings before Houghton broke through with five in the third. The Ducks did put runners on base in the third and again in the fifth, but failed to get any around to score before finally breaking through in the sixth.
 
Freshman Lauren Shirley led off the inning with a hard hit single to left before stealing second during the next at bat. Houghton starter Morgan York recovered by retiring the next two, but freshman Corinne Loncar refused to let her off the hook, ripping an RBI single up the middle.
 
Houghton got two back in the top of the seventh to make it 7-1, but the Ducks rallied once again in their half of the inning.
 
With two runs already in, sophomore Emily Sellitti ripped an RBI double to left center to plate two more. Freshman Farrly Groder was hit by a pitch in the next at bat where Loncar doubled both runners home to tie the game.
 
Junior Noelle Mulligan and freshman Cara Napolitano walked in the next two to at bats to load the bases, where senior Jamie DeGennaro ripped a single up the middle with two outs to win the game.
 
Loncar led the Ducks with three RBIs while DeGennaro and Sellitti each added two. Gemma got the win in relief.
 
Stevens 9, Houghton 0
 
Gemma retired the side in order in the first allowing the Ducks to build a lead in their half of the inning. After Sellitti singled and stole second with one out, DeGennaro drove her in with a single to center. Houghton retired the next batter on a fly-out, but Gemma follow up with a home run to center to put Stevens up 3-0.
 
Gemma made the lead stand with a scoreless third, allowing the Ducks to add to their lead in the bottom of the inning off an RBI sacrifice fly from Loncar, followed by an RBI single from freshman Marissa Barnes.
 
The runs were enough for Gemma who set the side down in order in the fourth, fifth and sixth, allowing the Ducks to complete the run rule shortened game in the sixth.
 
With one run already in, Gemma put the exclamation point on her day with a three run homer to left to end the game. Gemma's four hits and five RBIs were both career highs.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Ducks will continue their home stand Sunday when they host Alfred University starting at 12 p.m.
 
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