La Verne, Calif. – The Stevens Institute of Technology softball team fell twice during its season-opening doubleheader against La Verne on Saturday afternoon.
The Ducks (0-2) dropped a 9-0 decision in the opener and were clipped 6-5 in game two.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
The Leopards put up eight runs in the bottom of the first inning with just two hits.
Kyra Fischer walked with one out in the second but was stranded after the next two hitters were retired.
Jessica Hsu escaped a two-on, one-out jam in the second, inducing a popout and a lineout to keep the runners on base.
La Verne capped the scoring in the third, pushing a run across on an RBI groundout. The Ducks threatened in the fourth, as singles by Hsu and
Madison DiSarno put runners on first and second with two outs. Stevens was unable to capitalize, as a flyout to center ended the threat. The Ducks were unable to push a run across in the fifth, as the home side secured the five-inning victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
Walks to
Carmelita Murphy-Brown and Hsu put runners on first and second with two outs in the first inning, but a fielder's choice closed out the scoring chance.
Ella Tozduman started game two and fanned the first two hitters of the contest before inducing a groundout to third to retire the side in order.
The Leopards broke through for two runs in the second inning, stringing together three consecutive hits. Hsu entered in relief and registered a strikeout and a groundout to calm the threat.
Maria Dante laced a one-out double in the fourth and moved to third on a ground ball from
Isabelle Won. She was unable to advance further, but Hsu set the Leopards down while allowing one runner in the home half.
Trailing 2-0, the Ducks leveled the game in the fifth.
Riley Lawrence led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch.
Allison Mitloff reached on an infield single and promptly stole second. She advanced to third on a throwing error, allowing Lawrence to score. DiSarno continued the inning, bringing Mitloff home with a perfectly placed bunt.
Stevens escaped the fifth without damage after stranding a runner on third with two outs.
Won reached on a one-out infield single to short in the sixth, and
Courtney Ench followed with a pinch-hit single through the left side. Lawrence brought both runners home with a double to left. Quattrochi kept the inning alive with a single and a stolen base before scoring on a fielding error.
The Leopards pulled within one at 5-4 after six innings, as back-to-back RBI singles cut the deficit. They completed the comeback with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, with the final tally coming on a fielder's choice with runners on second and third.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- DiSarno collected her first collegiate hit in the opening contest, while Ench and Kacey DiPasquale recorded their first career hits in game two.
- Lawrence went 2-for-3 in the nightcap, driving in two runs.
- Led by two from Mitloff, Stevens swiped three bases in game two.
- Tozduman and Hsu combined for three strikeouts in the second contest.
UP NEXT
The Ducks close out their West Coast swing tomorrow, facing Occidental College in a doubleheader at 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm (ET) / 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm (PT).
