WEEHAWKEN, N.J. (April 11, 2018) – The Stevens Institute of Technology softball team did not allow a run in its Wednesday sweep of Rutgers-Newark in Weehawken. Christine LaRochelle and Marissa Cappello earned the shutouts and Gina DeOliveira and Farryl Groder posted four hits each for the offense as the Ducks wrapped up a perfect 8-0 homestand.
 
Game One
 LaRochelle was the story of the opener. After hitting the Newark leadoff batter to begin the game and issuing a walk to the next hitter, things looked inauspicious for the Stevens starter. But she wiggled out of that jam by inducing two groundouts to Lauren Shirley at third to keep the Scarlet Raiders off the board.
 
DeOliveira started the game's only scoring inning by legging out a one-out double to the left-centerfield alley. Samantha Schattin followed with a single through the right side to put runners on the corners, and Groder lined an RBI single over the second baseman's head to put the Ducks on top.
 
Stevens nearly had more as Corinne Loncar hit the next one right on the screws, but also right at the shortstop who was able to double off a runner to end the threat.
 
LaRochelle was brilliant, allowing just one hit on her way to her third-consecutive shutout and fourth-straight win. She has gone the last 23.2 innings without surrendering a run.
 
Game Two
Cappello was even more dominant; she struck out 10 and only allowed two hits. It was her second-straight shutout and her third of the season. All told, Stevens pitching has not allowed a run in 23 innings.
 
She had already put up three zeroes by the time the Ducks scored a run in the home half of the third. Once again DeOliveira started the rally with a base hit, and she raced around to third on a two-base error by the rightfielder. Groder singled up the middle to score her and give the Ducks a 1-0 lead.
 
The game remained tight for most of the matchup. It was only until the sixth that Stevens scored its insurance runs. Madison Gemma, Shirley, and Olivia Gemma hit back-to-back-to-back doubles, Melissa Alfonso and DeOliviera singled and Schattin added one more double as Stevens plated four in the frame – more than the two teams scored combined over the rest of the afternoon.
 
Capello allowed just one baserunner in the seventh to seal the shutout and pick up her fifth win of the season.
 

• Stevens has won nine games in a row
• DeOliveria finished the day 4-5 with a double and three runs scored
• Groder was 4-7 and drove in two runs
• Madison Gemma was 3-6
• Shirley, Schattin and Olivia Gemma all had multi-hit days
• LaRochelle and Cappello held Rutgers to a .068 batting average and did not allow an extra-basehit

 
Up Next
The Ducks will begin a four-game Empire 8 road trip on Friday at Houghton College at 3 p.m.
 
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