WEEHAWKEN, N.J. (April 2, 2022) – First-year
Kaitlin Smith hurled eight scoreless innings of relief as the Stevens Institute of Technology softball team rallied for a 3-2 victory over King's College in 10 innings Saturday in the second game of a MAC Freedom doubleheader Saturday at Waterfront Park.
Senior
Amanda Delorme drove a liner off the glove of second baseman Sydney Bachman to score sophomore
Carolyn Yahn, who had been placed at second base to start the inning. The thrilling victory left the Ducks with a 3-9 record on the year and a 1-1 mark in MAC Freedom play.
Bailey Loyack finished with five hits and Harley Sullivan completed play with three RBI for the Monarchs, who won the opening game 6-5 in eight innings to close play 9-6 on the year and 3-3 in league play. The Ducks are 4-2 all-time against King's.
"We are working through a really tough time right now," head coach
Emily Kaczmarek said. "It's a much needed win and it feels good, but I am mostly pleased with the group's dynamic and willingness to continue to push through the frustration and trust in our process. One game at a time, but this is something to build off of for sure."
Smith (2-4) entered the game with Stevens trailing 2-0 and went to work in keeping King's off the board for the remainder of the contest. The left-hander worked around jams in the sixth and seventh innings, which allowed the Ducks offense to tie things up against Emily Novicki (3-2). In the longest outing of her career, Smith, who also took the loss in game one, scattered seven hits and struck out two, without issuing a walk.
The Ducks finally touched Novicki in the fifth. Sophomore
Madison Kidd stroked a one-out double to right and quickly moved to third on a wild pitch. Delorme plated the Ducks' first run with an RBI single through the right side to cut into the King's lead. The Ducks added another run one inning later on sophomore
Jessica Guerrero's long RBI double to right center.
Neither side was able to break through in the final innings and the tiebreaker rule came into play in the 10th. Kiersten Krouse was placed on second to start the final inning, but was stranded there after Smith retired Lindsey Leppo on a flyout to center and then induced back-to-back grounders to end the inning. The 10-inning affair was the longest for the program since an 11-inning contest against Alfred in the 2019 Empire 8 Conference playoffs.
Extra innings were also required in the opener. King's plated a pair of runs off Smith (1-4) in the eighth on singles by Olivia Krupski and Baily Loyack. The Ducks rallied in their half of the frame when Gabrielle Visconti fired senior
Meg Halloran's bunt into right field, allowing the speedy centerfielder to reach and third and junior
Alex Schoellig to score from first. Sophomore
Julia Baber walked to continue the rally, but pinch-hitter
Olivia Warner grounded out to end the contest.
Smith was the hard luck loser in the opening game, allowing an earned run over two innings. Junior
Erin Kreis struck out six over six innings in a no-decision. Brandi McIntosh (5-2) struck out four to earn the complete-game victory.
Halloran and Schoellig each had two hits in the opening game, while Halloran stole two bases. Loyack finished 4 for 5 to pace King's.
Up Next: Stevens hits the road for a MAC Freedom doubleheader at Lycoming College Sunday afternoon. This will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
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