COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. (February 26, 2023) – Senior Olivia Warner went 3 for 6 with a pair of RBI across two games, but the Stevens Institute of Technology softball team dropped both ends of a season-opening doubleheader to Ursinus College Sunday in a non-conference twinbill at Snell Field.

Fifth-year Meg Halloran and sophomore Rachael Prescott each had two RBI as the Ducks dropped game one 13-8 after rallying from an early eight-run deficit. In game two, sophomore Madison Subbiondo went 2 for 2 with an RBI as the Ducks' late rally came up just short in a 5-4 setback. Stevens dropped to 0-2.

Maddie Solow and Kayla Carr each homered and Amanda Panati had four RBI across the two games as Ursinus opened 2-0. Sunday's doubleheader marked the first-ever meetings between the teams.

"Today's results were obviously not what we wanted but there is a lot of opportunity here to grow and develop," head coach Emily Kaczmarek said. "Eager to make some small adjustments and get after this week starting with our home opener Wednesday."

After both teams were retired in order in the first inning, the Ducks had their first rally of the season against Christa Andrusiewicz (1-0) in the second. Graduate student Siobhan Cottell singled. Two batters later, senior Erin Kreis had the first hit of her career with a two-out single to right. Junior Jessica Guerrero singled to load the bases, but Andrusiewicz induced a groundout to get out of trouble.

Ursinus scored six times and sent 10 batters to the plate in the third against Kreis (0-1). The first five batters of the inning reached, with Panati and Carr connecting for a bases-loaded double and a two-run homer, respectively, to account for five of the six runs. The Bears added a pair of runs in the fourth to increase their lead to eight. Kreis allowed eight earned runs across 3 1-3 innings with one strikeout.

The Duck bats woke up in the fifth. Guerrero led off with a double and sophomore Emma Ruiz walked. First-year Emily Wohlleber followed with a pinch-hit single to load the bases. Halloran slapped a ball through the right side to plate a pair in the Ducks' first runs of the season to chase Andrusiewicz. After the pitching change, Prescott delivered a two-run double as the fifth straight batter to reach. Two batters later, Warner delivered a two-out single to score Prescott. Alexis Miller walked the next two batters to reload the bases and Ruiz made the Ursinus hurler pay with a two-run single as the Ducks pulled all the way back to within one. Andrusiewicz allowed four runs in four innings to earn the victory. 

Ursinus scratched a run across in the fifth, but the Ducks quickly answered in the sixth on Warner sacrifice fly. However, Ursinus scored four times in the sixth against first-year Kyra Fischer, who was making her collegiate debut, to reclaim a comfortable margin.

Guerrero was hit by a pitch leading off the seventh and Ruiz singled to right as the Ducks threatened again. However, Miller retired the next three batters in order to secure her first save. 

In game two, Ursinus struck for four runs in the first off first-year Ella Tozduman (0-1) in her collegiate debut. Samantha Mallen singled to first and moved to second on a wild pitch. After a flyout, Allyson Meakim singled down the left field line to score a run. Solow followed with a long ball to push Ursinus' lead to four. 

After earning the save in game one, Miller took the circle in game two and didn't allow a hit until Guerrero's leadoff single in the third, which was erased by a double play. The Ducks finally got to Miller in the fourth. Halloran singled to left and the speedy outfielder quickly stole second. Prescott walked and Cottell doubled to right center for the Ducks' first run of the game. Wohlleber singled to left for her first collegiate RBI. Later in the inning, Subbiondo singled up the middle for her first career RBI to pull the Ducks within one.

Panati's RBI single in the fourth proved to be a key insurance run because the Ducks added a run in the fifth on Prescott's RBI double. Both of Prescott's hits on the day were doubles. The Ducks had runners on in both the sixth and seventh innings, but Stephanie Wichman stranded both runners to earn the save.

Tozduman allowed five runs in 3 1-3 in her first career start. Sophomore Megan Curtis relieved in the fourth and allowed just two hits in 2 2-3 scoreless innings.

In addition to Fischer, Wohlleber and Tozduman, the contests also marked the collegiate debut for first-year Joy Pikul.

Up Next: Softball welcomes Hunter College to Weehawken Waterfront Park on Mar. 1 for the home opener. The Ducks have won the last four meetings between the teams. Links for live stats and video are posted to StevensDucks.com.

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