Union, N.J. – The Stevens Institute of Technology softball team split a doubleheader with Kean University on Monday afternoon, dropping the opener 2-1 before bouncing back for a 3-0 victory in game two.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game one remained scoreless through two innings before Kean broke through with two unearned runs in the third. The Cougars capitalized on an error, followed by consecutive two-out singles to bring home both runs. The Ducks threatened in the fourth when
Jessica Hsu singled to right with two outs. Pinch runner Lily Cournoyer advanced to second as
Rachael Prescott was hit by a pitch, but a foul out ended the frame.
Stevens nearly took advantage of a Kean miscue in the sixth as
Jessica Guerrero reached on a throwing error and advanced to third on a wild pitch. However, she was thrown out attempting to score on an
Emma Quattrochi bunt. In the seventh, pitcher
Kyra Fischer sparked a rally with a leadoff single and moved into scoring position on a groundout.
Megan Curtis followed with an RBI single up the middle to plate Fischer, but the Ducks couldn't push across the tying run as a groundout ended the game.
In game two, junior
Ella Tozduman worked out of early trouble, issuing two first-inning walks before escaping unscathed. She and Kean's Olivia Quercia engaged in a pitchers' duel, with neither team recording a hit until the fourth inning. The Ducks broke through in the fifth.
Carmelita Murphy-Brown earned a one-out walk, with Cournoyer coming in as a pinch-runner.
Madison Subbiondo followed with a single to center, and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. With one out, Prescott drew a walk on a wide pitch that saw Cournoyer tagged out attempting to advance. In the chaos, Prescott found herself in a rundown but reached second safely, allowing Subbiondo to alertly dash home for a 1-0 lead.
Stevens added insurance in the sixth.
Allison Mitloff led off with a single up the middle, and Guerrero reached on a throwing error, allowing Mitloff to score all the way from first. A sacrifice bunt moved Guerrero to third, and Hsu delivered an RBI single to extend the lead to 3-0. Hsu then took over in relief and shut the door, retiring all six batters she faced, including a 1-2-3 seventh inning, to secure her first career save.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Fischer was the tough-luck losing pitcher in game one, tossing a complete game with seven strikeouts. Both runs allowed were unearned.
- Hsu went 2-for-3 in the opener, with Fischer and Curtis also collecting hits.
- The two teams combined for just five hits in game two. The two hits allowed by Stevens marked their best defensive performance since holding John Jay to one hit on April 24, 2024.
- Tozduman earned her first win of the season, pitching five scoreless innings.
- Hsu recorded her first career save, striking out one over the final two frames.
UP NEXT
The Ducks return home on Wednesday for a doubleheader against William Paterson University, with first pitch set for 11 a.m.
