UTICA, N.Y. (April 25, 2015) – Stevens Institute of Technology freshmen softball players
Lauren Shirley and
Corinne Loncar each set career-highs in RBIs Saturday in the Ducks 12-3 and 13-7 Empire 8 Conference wins over Utica College.
The wins moved Stevens to 22-7-1 (8-4) while Utica fell to 14-17 (6-9). With the sweep, the Ducks have clinched a spot in next weekend's E8 Championship.
Stevens 12, Utica 3
A triple from junior
Gavriella Risman-Jones sparked a six run inning for the Ducks in the first. A throwing error during the second at-bat played Risman-Jones for the first run before a passed ball made it 2-0. Shirley continued the rally with a two-run homer run before Risman-Jones' RBI single capped the inning.
Utica answered with two in their half of the first, but the Ducks responded quickly in the second with a two-RBI triple from Shirley. The runs were plenty for senior
Kayla Berardi who put-up zeroes in the second and third.
A two-run home run from Shirley in the fourth ballooned the lead further before sophomore
Jessica Rees added to it with a two-run homer of her own in the fifth.
Utica tried to extend the game with a run in the bottom of the fifth, but it's as close as they would get the rest of the afternoon.
Shirley paced the Ducks with three hits and a career-high six RBIs, while Rees' home run gives her the single season record.
Stevens 13, Utica 7
For the second time on the afternoon, the Ducks jumped out to an early lead in the first. With runners on first and second, freshman
Olivia Gemma singled home two with a single to right. Utica bounced-back with the first out of the inning, but Sellitti added to the lead after reaching on an error to score one more.
The Ducks added another in the second off Risman-Jones' RBI double to right before adding two more in the third highlighted by a two-RBI double from freshman
Corinne Loncar.
Utica mustered its own rally with two in the third to pull within 7-3, but a solo home run from junior
Sydney Spitz and a two-run home run from Shirley ballooned the Stevens lead to 10-3.
The Pioneers clawed back to make it 10-5, but Loncar gave the Ducks their breathing room back in the sixth two a two-RBI single. Utica rallied again in the seventh with a run before loading the bases, but Gemma induced two straight outs to end the game.
Loncar led the Ducks offensively with a career-high four RBIs while Gemma added two to help her own cause.
UP NEXT The Ducks will continue their E8 road trip tomorrow with a doubleheader at Elmira College starting at 1 p.m.
Facebook: "Like" Stevens Athletics
Twitter: @stevensducks
Instagram: @stevensducks
