WEEHAWKEN, N.J. (March 8, 2022) – The Stevens Institute of Technology softball team produced two late-inning rallies, but came up just short in dropping a pair of games to Stockton University Tuesday in a non-conference doubleheader at Waterfront Park.

Junior Erin Kreis (0-3) appeared in both ends of the doubleheader, pitching effectively enough to put the Ducks in a position to win each game, striking out six over 11 innings. However, Stockton scored two runs in the eighth inning to win the opening game 6-5 before claiming the nightcap in an 11-10 slugfest. The sweep dropped Stevens to 0-6 on the season, while the Ospreys moved to 2-0.
 
"We got better today; I don't care about anything else," remarked head coach Emily Kaczmarek. "We got better today offensively and defensively for the first time this season and our student-athletes should be proud of that."
 
Stevens carried a 4-1 lead into the top of the seventh of game one, but visiting Stockton rallied for three runs to force extra innings. In the eighth, Kayla Posten doubled down the left-field line to plate Charli Czaczkowksi, who began the inning at second base. The Ospreys tacked on another run on an RBI groundout to take a 6-4 lead. The Ducks rallied in their half of the eighth as junior Alex Schoellig drove in sophomore Carolyn Yahn to cut Stevens' deficit in half. 

Senior Meg Halloran reached on an infield single and promptly stole second, but sophomore Julia Baber grounded out on a 1-2 pitch to end the game.

Samantha McErlane (1-0) fired all eight innings to earn the win, allowing five unearned runs on seven hits. 
 
Baber and Halloran led the Ducks offensively in the opening game, both going 1 for 3 at the plate. Baber had an RBI to go along with two sacrifice hits, while Halloran scored twice, stole a base and had one sacrifice of her own.
 
The Ducks got on the board first in the bottom of the third on a fielder's choice groundout by senior Lexi Gregule. In the fourth the Ducks extended their lead when they exploded for three runs, taking advantage of a fielding error by McErlane as well as Baber's RBI single, which made it 4-0 heading into the top of the fifth.
 
The score stayed at 4-0 until Stockton broke through in the sixth. With two outs, Posten reached on an error, allowing Lilly James to score from third. The Ospreys plated three more in the seventh on James' bases-clearing double.
 
Stevens had a chance to win it in the bottom half of the seventh. Sophomore Jessica Guerrero was hit by the first pitch of the inning. Sophomore Melanie Blarr was up next and also got plunked, putting runners on first and second with no one out. After a popup, the Ducks boldly and successfully achieved a double steal putting runners on second and third with one out. Unfortunately that is where the promising rally stalled as a lineout to short resulted in a double play to end the Ducks' threat.
 
In the second game, it was the Ducks who rallied late, posting a four-spot in the bottom of the seventh, but falling one run short as the Ospreys snuck away with a 11-10 win.
 
The Ducks had major contributions from many in their lineup. Schoellig finished 3 for 4 with a run and three RBI, while Baber went 2 for 4 with a run, an RBI and a stolen base. Guerrero enjoyed a 2 for 4 day at the plate, with a run, a double and an RBI. Sophomore Madison Kidd also filled up the box score, scoring two runs and knocking in two, while also walking once and stealing a base. Graduate student Amanda Delorme also was very productive at the plate with a 1 for 3 effort to go along with a game-high three runs scored, a walk and a stolen base.
 
A pair of hitters stood out for Stockton as Megan Sears went 2 for 3 with two runs, a homer, and three RBI. Meanwhile, Czaczkowski enjoyed a 3 for 4 afternoon with two runs scored, a homer, and three RBI.
 
After the Ospreys jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second, the Ducks roared back, scoring five runs in the bottom half of the frame. The two teams traded runs in the third and then Stockton erupted for a big inning of their own, putting up seven in the top half of the fourth. The Ospreys tacked on another run in the sixth to extend their lead to 11-6.
 
The bottom of the seventh is where things really got exciting for Stevens as Guerrero sparked the rally with a one-out double to right field. Sophomore Melanie Blarr followed with a single up the middle plating Guerrero to cut the lead to 11-7. Next up was Delorme who drew a key walk. After a caught stealing, the Ducks kept the pressure on as Kidd reached on a single and promptly stole second. Schoellig singled up the middle to score Kidd and moved to second on the throw home to bring the winning run to the play, but Stevie Unger (1-0) induced a groundout to end the entertaining contest.

First-year Megan Curtis (0-1) was dealt the loss for Stevens, giving up three earned runs. Stockton's Stevie Unger went the distance and was credited with the win, giving up all 10 runs, three of which were earned, and striking out five.
 
Up Next: The Ducks will host a pair of home contests against the College of Mount Saint Vincent on Mar. 14 and Mar. 17. The all-time series between the two teams stands at a 4-0 clip in Stevens' favor with the most recent meeting coming in 2011, when the Ducks swept the Dolphins by scores of 7-0 and 12-0.
 
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