WEEHAWKEN, N.J. (May 15, 2021) – Senior Madison Gemma hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the six to break a 1-1 tie and help the Stevens Institute of Technology softball team win its first-ever conference title with a 6-1 victory over Misericordia University in the MAC Freedom Championship Saturday at Waterfront Park.

Graduate student Samantha Schattin earned tournament Most Valuable Player honors after collecting a hit in every game in the conference tournament and senior Jessie Masur tossed another complete game as the Ducks moved to 22-8 and will now compete in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.

The series loss was the first of the season for the Cougars who close their season with a 24-6 overall record after winning the MAC Freedom Regular Season title.

"It's been a wild ride," head coach Emily Kaczmarek said. "In a year with such extenuating circumstances, it's amazing to accomplish this feat. These student-athletes gave a lot. They committed to this on an entirely new level. They gave up going to see their families among so many other things. From day one, this team was committed to working harder than they ever have. They earned this."

The Ducks fell behind 1-0 after the first but were able to tie it up with a run in the fifth and broke things open with a five-run sixth inning highlighted by Gemma's bomb to capture the title.

Misericordia, who was acting as the home team due to being the highest-seeded team in the series, jumped on the board early in the bottom of the first when Amanda Butera singled through the right side to bring home a run.

The Cougars were unable to add on any more run in the frame, however, as Masur (15-3) got a pop out to end the frame and strand the bases loaded.

The MAC Freedom Pitcher of the Year settled in from there as she did not allow a runner to reach third and only allowed one to reach second base after the first inning.

With the score still 1-0 in the top of the fifth, Schattin started a rally with a single through the right side and advanced to third on a single into right center from fifth-year Gina DeOliveira who stole second to put a pair in scoring position.

One batter later, sophomore Alex Schoellig laced a pitch into right that nearly found the turf for a two-RBI double before Misericordia right fielder made a diving catch to preserve a run. The lineout was deep enough to score Schattin from third, however, as the sacrifice fly tied the contest at one.

The next inning, senior Amanda Delorme led the inning of with a single into center field to set the table for Gemma.

The senior from Fairfield, N.J., stepped to the plate and lifted a 1-2 pitch the opposite way for her third big fly of the season to put the Ducks up 3-1.

Stevens was not done there, however, as senior Victoria Kapp singled up the middle and junior Meg Halloran followed it up with a triple down the right field line to drive in a run.

It was Halloran's third extra-base hit of the tournament as she closed the game by going 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. She raced home on a throwing error by the pitcher one batter later to push the score to 5-1.

The final run of the inning came when Schattin stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and came home on an RBI groundout off the bat of DeOliveira.

The five-run cushion was more than enough for Masur as she faced just one batter over the minimum over the final two innings to seal the win.

In the bottom of the seventh, Cougars starting pitcher Alexa McHugh ripped a single into left field and attempted to stretch the single into a double. The decision was not wise, though, as Schattin fired a strike to Kapp at second base for the final out of the game.

After dropping her first start of the season since March 20 on Friday, Masur bounced back with a strong performance, allowing one run while scattering seven hits and striking out three. She now has 107 punchouts this season and joins Marissa Cappello and Kayla Berardi as one of only three student-athletes in program history to top 100 strikeouts in a single season.

Offensively, Kapp and Halloran both produced multi-hit games while seven of the Ducks' nine starters recorded at least one hit.

In the tournament, Schattin went 15 for 27 with four RBIs, nine runs scored, two doubles and a triple to add another trophy to her impressive list of accolades. Her hit streak is now at 11 straight games and she has reached base safely in 28 of the 30 games she has played in this season.

Veteran leadership helped lead the Ducks to the title as the four fifth-year seniors (Abigail Circelli, DeOliveira, Kapp and Schattin) combined to hit .340 (16 for 47) in with six RBIs in the championship series against the Cougars.

"A season ago, these four fifth-year seniors though their careers abruptly ended in the blink of an eye," Kaczmarek said. "I could not be happier for them to finish what they started just a few years ago."

Softball joined men's swimming, men's lacrosse, men's tennis and golf as one of five Stevens programs to win a conference title this season.

Next Up: The Ducks now await their fate in the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament. The NCAA selection show will air on NCAA.com at 1:00 p.m. on May 17.

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