GALLOWAY, N.J. (March 8, 2023) – Sophomore Rachael Prescott delivered four hits and three RBI across two games, but the Stevens Institute of Technology softball team was swept by Stockton University Wednesday in a non-conference doubleheader at Stockton's Softball Field.

In a pair of one-run losses, Stockton held off the Ducks in the final inning with runners in scoring position. Stevens fell 9-8 in the opener before falling 3-2 in five innings in the night cap. The victories propelled Stockton to 3-3 on the year, while the Ducks dropped to 5-5. Stevens has dropped 10 straight matchups against the Ospreys, although the last five have all been decided by one run.

Lily James was the hero for Stockton in game one, hitting a solo home run in the first inning and totaling four RBI on four hits to lead the Ospreys to victory. Kayla Posten paced the home team in the second game, going 3 for three and driving in two of the three Stockton runs.

Game one kicked off with the Ducks striking in the top of the first. With two outs, Prescott doubled to right center to give Stevens their first base runner. Senior Olivia Warner doubled to left field to plate Prescott to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead. James' homer allowed Stockton to tie things up.

The Ducks did more work with two outs, this time in the second. Senior Elise Fauske walked. Sophomore Emma Ruiz singled down the right field line, which advanced Fauske to third. Fauske scored after a wild pitch from Stockton pitcher Jenna Crampton (1-0). Junior Jessica Guerrero followed with an RBI single to right which to drive in Ruiz and put the Ducks up two. Fifth-year Meg Halloran reached base in the next at bat with a single, which pushed Guerrero to second. The Ducks scored their third and final run of the inning off a Prescott single.

The Ospreys answered Stevens immediately, scoring twice in the bottom of the second inning. Gabrielle Barranger and James each had RBI hits. Stockton appeared to break the game open with three runs in the third to take a 7-4, with James driving in two of the runs.

Guerrero quickly created a scoring opportunity in the fourth. The third-year infielder singled and promptly stole second. Guerrero moved to third on a wild pitch and came around two score on another Prescott RBI two innings later. Warner was credited with an RBI on a fielder's choice as the Ducks cut the Stockton lead to 7-6.

Stevens jumped back in front in the sixth. Prescott worked a one-out walk and pinch runner Lexi Gregule moved to third on Warner's single to right. Gregule came around to score on a wild pitch. Junior Carolyn Yahn walked and graduate student Siobhan Cottell gave the Ducks a 7-6 lead with an RBI single to left to prompt a pitching change. Crampton returned to the game and stranded Yahn at second after recording the final two outs of the inning. 

Stockton retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth and was able to hold on to the victory. Megan Sears hit a leadoff double which immediately put the tying run into scoring position. She would later score in the inning. Vanessa Tancini then was able to lay down a bunt for a hit, which scored the winning run in Brianna Segnello.

Ruiz was able to get into scoring position in the top of the seventh with no outs, but the Ducks were unable to score the tying run. Senior Erin Kreis (1-3) pitched all six innings, allowing six earned runs on 14 hits. She struck out three and walked three in the contest.

For the second straight game, the Ducks struck first in game two. Guerrero led off with an infield single. After advancing to second, she came around to score on a Prescott hit a double to right center. Prescott touched home plate later in the inning after Cottell hit a sacrifice fly to center to double the Ducks lead.

Stockton answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Posten and Jenna Patterson each had run-scoring hits in the frame.

The Ospreys scored what ended up as the winning run in the fourth. Gabrielle Berranger had a leadoff double and came around to score on Posten's one-out single to right. Nerina Tramp (2-1) then pitched a scoreless fifth inning after allowing Fauske, who pinch-ran for Cottell, to get into scoring position. The game ended after that as the two teams were only able to play five innings due to darkness. First-year Ella Tozduman (3-2) pitched all four innings for the Ducks, striking out two. 

Up Next: Softball heads to the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina this weekend. The team will take on Fitchburg State and Stevenson on Saturday, March 11, and then Plattsburgh State and SUNY Canton on Sunday, March 12. All four matchups will be first-time meetings.

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