WEEHAWKEN, N.J. (May 8, 2021) – Senior Abigail Circelli ripped an RBI single up the middle with two outs and the score tied in the bottom of the eighth to bring home graduate student Samantha Schattin and clinch a 2-1 win in game one for the Stevens Institute of Technology softball team in the MAC Freedom Semifinals against Arcadia University before falling in game two 7-5 to split the doubleheader.

With the split, Stevens is 19-7 overall on the year while Arcadia moves to 21-11. The two teams will now play a winner-take-all final game of the series Sunday at 1:00 p.m. in Glenside, Pa., with a spot in the MAC Freedom Championship against conference regular season champion Misericordia on the line.

"What an awesome effort today by both teams," head coach Emily Kaczmarek said. "This is what it is all about. Two teams competing extremely hard on every pitch. We are excited for tomorrow with a chance to clinch a spot to compete for the title."

In the first contest of the day, the Ducks got another stellar effort in the circle from senior Jessie Masur as she tossed eight innings and allowed one run on three hits while striking out three.

The Knights started the scoring in the top of the first with two outs as they got a walk, back-to-back singles and a bases loaded walk to bring home a run.

Masur (13-1) was able to limit the damage, though, as she got the next batter to ground out to fifth-year Gina DeOliveira at third with the bases loaded to end the threat.

The pitcher's duel didn't see another run on the scoreboard until the bottom of the fifth as Masur and Arcadia starter Kylee Schwind traded zeros on the scoreboard.

In the fifth, senior Madison Gemma led the inning off with a single and pinch runner Elise Fauske was sacrificed to second by graduate student Victoria Kapp and to third by junior Meg Halloran.

With a runner on third and two outs, Schattin came through as she has done so many times all year with an RBI single back through the box on a 2-0 pitch off Juliana Presto to tie the contest at one.

The score remained tied through seven innings and would need an extra to decide who would take home the victory.

After Masur retired the side in order in the top of the eighth, Schattin started the rally with a leadoff single that tipped off the edge of the outstretched glove of the shortstop and moved to second on a sacrifice from DeOliveira who ranks second in all of NCAA Division III in sac bunts per game.

With two away, Circelli stepped to the plate and laced a 1-2 pitch into centerfield to bring home Schattin, who closed the game with a 2 for 4 performance with a run scored and an RBI, to seal the win.

In the second contest of the day, Arcadia started the game on top once again as Megan Sooy ripped a three-run homer over fence in left center to make the score 3-0 in the first.

The Ducks responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the second when Siobhan Cottell hit her fourth home run of the season to left field and cut the deficit to 3-1.

Arcadia was able to answer with a run of their own in the top of the third thanks to an RBI double off the bat of Alexa Vardiman.

In the bottom of the fourth, Stevens was able to use a big three-run rally to tie the contest at four apiece.

Circelli led the inning off with a single up the middle and Cottell followed with a walk to put two runners on with no outs.

Senior Amanda Delorme then stepped to the plate and bounced an RBI single through the right side to bring home pinch runner junior Lexi Gregule.

Two batters later, Kapp came through with an RBI single of her own into right center and cut the score to 4-3 and Halloran followed with an RBI groundout to tie things up at four.

Still tied in the top of the sixth, Arcadia re-took the lead off Masur who came on in relief on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Brooke Ward.

Then in the seventh, Sooy added another run for the Knights with an RBI double into right center and came around to score thanks to an RBI single from Kayla Pscolka to bring the score to 7-4.

In the bottom half of the frame, Halloran led the inning off with a double and was able to race home on an error to make the score 7-5 with one away.

Presto danced out of trouble, though, as Alex Schoellig ripped a line drive right at the second Vardiman at second base who was able to double up DeOliveira and end the game.

Offensively, the Ducks got an RBI and a base hit from Cottell, Delorme, Kapp and Halloran in the second contest while Masur (13-2) ended up in the loss column in the circle for just the second time this season.

Next Up: The series will conclude tomorrow at Blankley Field at 1:00 p.m. with Stevens acting as the home team on the scoreboard in the contest. Live stats and video will be available on StevensDucks.com.

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