WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (March 14, 2021) – Trailing 3-1 in the top half of the seventh inning, the Stevens Institute of Technology softball team scored three runs in the seventh to pull ahead by one and went on to grab the 4-3 victory to clinch the series before falling in game two 8-2.
The Ducks, who also came from behind in game two of Saturday's doubleheader, produced three RBI singles in the seventh, capped by a single off the bat of
Jessica Guerrero to start the year 3-0 for the second straight year. The Monarchs made sure a four-game sweep would not have, however, winning the fourth game by six thanks in large part to a five-run sixth inning.
"It was a good overall opening weekend series considering how long it has been since we last competed [369 days]" head coach
Emily Kaczmarek said. "We certainly have our work cut out for us but that's half the fun. I'm eager to get rolling and see our improvements day-by-day."
Offensively,
Samantha Schattin continued her torrid pace at the plate as she produced a pair of 2 for 3 games to lead the way while Guerrero,
Madison Gemma and
Amanda Delorme all had multi-hit games in the doubleheader as well.
For the second straight day in the circle,
Jessie Masur found a way to pick up a win as she tossed all 7.0 innings while striking out 11 and walking none, allowing three runs while scattering eight hits.
In game number one Stevens found itself in top early thanks to an RBI double into left center off the bat of
Abigail Circelli, bringing home Schattin.
Neither team generated any scoring threat until the fourth when April Bonwit deposited a home run over the right field fence to tie things up.
One inning later, the Monarchs took their first lead of the day thanks to an RBI double from Morgan Briggs and tacked on another after a perfectly executed squeeze play by Keirsten Krouse.
With their backs against the wall staring at a 3-1 deficit, the Ducks mounted the comeback starting with a leadoff single to Gemma.
After Schattin singled to right to put runners on first and third,
Gina DeOliveira ripped an RBI infield single to plate pinch runner
Madison Kidd. Schoellig tied things up with an RBI single up the middle that tied the game at 3-3.
King's went to the bullpen to bring in a new arm after the game was tied, but it did not pay off as Guerrero's RBI single to the shortstop put the Ducks on top 4-3.
In the bottom of the seventh looking for redemption, the Monarchs were able to runners on first and third with two outs. Masur was able to collect herself, though, and punch out Kristi Ann Skok to end the game.
In game number two after King's took a 1-0 lead in the third on an error, Stevens received an RBI double off the bat of Schattin and an RBI single from DeOliveira to take a 2-1 lead.
The Monarchs had an answer for that as well, though, as they re-took the lead for good at 3-2 thanks to a double and a sacrifice fly.
Still in the game for a bit after the fifth, the Ducks were put away ultimately in the sixth as King's batted around and brought home six runs in the inning to push the score to 8-2.
DeLorme, the lone starter to have three hits in the doubleheader, went 3 for 3 with a run scored in the contest.
The Ducks and the Monarchs were the only two MAC Freedom schools who played all four scheduled games this weekend, making Stevens the lone 3-1 team in the conference.
Stevens returns to the diamond Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m. against Widener. Live stats and video will be available on StevensDucks.com.
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