CLERMONT, Fla. (March 21, 2016) - The Stevens Institute of Technology softball team used its power and pitching Monday in a 13-9 win over Union College, followed by a 3-1 victory over Washington & Jefferson College.

The wins kept Stevens undefeated so far this season at 6-0, while Union and W&J fell to 1-4 and 1-5 respectively.

Stevens 13, Union 9
The Ducks jumped out to the early lead thanks to a four-run outburst in the top of the first, keyed by sophomore Olivia Gemma's three-run double to left to score senior Gavriella Risman-Jones, sophomore Farryl Groder, and sophomore Corinne Loncar.

Freshman Katherine Tirabassi capped the rally with an RBI single, but Union responded four of its own in its half of the first to knot the game at four.

Groder grabbed the lead back for the Ducks with an RBI single in the second, before the Ducks tallied their second big inning of the game with six runs in the third. Tirabassi drove in the first three of the inning off a three-run homer, before Groder's RBI single four batters later made it 10-4.

A Union error off a batted ball from sophomore Lauren Shirley put the Ducks up six, before an RBI single from junior Gina Schnecker in the fourth gave the Ducks their 13th and final run.

Union responded with a five-run rally in its half of the fourth, but freshman pitcher Marissa Capello came on relief to throw scoreless innings in the final three innings to seal the win for Stevens.

Gemma, Groder and Tirabassi each drove in three, while Risman-Jones went 3-for-5 with three runs scored. Gemma earned her first win of the season in the circle.

Stevens 3, W&J 1
After freshman starter Christine LaRochelle retired the W&J side in order in the first, the Ducks grabbed the early lead with two in their half of the inning.

Risman-Jones sparked the inning with a leadoff single before stealing second, and scored off Groder's RBI double. On the same hit, Groder took advantage of a throwing error from the outfield to come all the way around to score.

W&J got one back in the second off an RBI double, but LaRochelle settled down to retire the side in order in the third and fourth. The Presidents threatened again in the sixth with runners at first and third and one out, but a double play turned by Shirley at second slammed the door on any scoring opportunities.

The Ducks added a run of insurance in the sixth with an RBI single from Shirley, but it turned out to not be necessary as LaRochelle sent W&J down one-two-three in the seventh to earn the win.

LaRochelle struck out two and scattered five hits to earn her second win of the season. Risman-Jones went 3-for-3 with two runs in her sixth straight multi-hit game, while Groder went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.

UP NEXT
The Ducks will continue their Florida trip tomorrow with games against No. 5 Tufts University and Hood College starting at 11 a.m.

Facebook: "Like" Stevens Athletics
Twitter: @stevensducks
Instagram: @stevensducks