Columbus, Ga. –
Jessica Hsu hit a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology to a 5-4 win over Transylvania University to help split on the final day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Sunday.
The Ducks (5-5) fell to LaGrange College 7-3 in the opening game before Hsu's heroics.
HOW IT HAPPENED (vs. LaGrange)
Stevens drew first blood, putting a run up in the bottom of the first.
Emma Quattrochi led off with a single to center and stole second and third.
Allison Mitloff hit a ground ball to the second baseman, scoring Quattrochi to give Stevens the 1-0 lead. The Panthers answered with two in the top of the second, getting an RBI single and a sacrifice fly to jump in front 2-1.
The score remained the same until the sixth stanza, as LaGrange added three runs on three hits. The Ducks cut into the deficit in the bottom of the inning, as an
Isabela Lipsky single got past an outfielder and allowed Angelique Ceballos-Cardona to score from first. Lipsky moved onto third on the miscue and was knocked in on an RBI single from
Kacey DiPasquale.
LaGrange tacked on the final two tallies in the top of the seventh, as a two-run home run to left field extended the lead to 7-3.
Maria Dante singled with two outs in the seventh to keep the game going, but a line out to short ended the contest.
HOW IT HAPPENED (vs. Transylvania)
Quattrochi got the Ducks going in the first, leading off with an infield single and swiping second and third. After a strikeout,
Carmelita Murphy-Brown dropped a single to center, scoring Quattrochi. The Pioneers got three on the board in the second, as a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded tied the game before a two-out double to center made it 3-1.
The Ducks threatened in the third, with Quattrochi reaching on a one-out single. The junior stole second and moved up to third on a wild pitch, with Mitloff walking and stealing second. They were unable to capitalize, as a strikeout and caught stealing retired the side. In the fourth, Hsu and
Isabela Lipsky led off with singles and advanced a base on a sac bunt by Madison Disarno. Hsu was tagged out on a fielder's choice at the plate and a strikeout ended the threat.
Isabelle Won doubled leading off the fifth and Ceballos-Cardona worked a walk to put runners on first and second with one down. Murphy-Brown hit a comebacker to the pitcher, but the throw to third was offline, allowing Won to score from second. The Ducks tied the game in the sixth, as DiPasquale, who singled with one out, came all the way around on a double to deep center by Quattrochi.
The Pioneers regained the advantage in the top of the seventh, scoring an unearned tally after a sacrifice fly. Down to their final at-bat, Mitloff got the rally started in the bottom of the seventh. The sophomore singled to center and after the ball got past the fielder, got all the way to third. Murphy-Brown grounded out, but Hsu stepped up and belted a two-run homer to left field, clinching the victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (vs. LaGrange)
Carmelita Murphy-Brown reached base three times, singling and drawing two walks.
Quattrochi swiped a pair of bases, with
Ella Tozduman adding one.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (vs. Transylvania)
Hsu's home run was the first of her career and the first two RBI of the season.
Quattrochi went 3-for-4 at the top of the lineup, doubling and stealing three bases.
Tozduman earned her first victory of the season, tossing a complete game with one strikeout while allowing four runs (three earned).
UP NEXT
The Ducks open Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom action on Saturday, heading to Center Valley, Pa. to face DeSales in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 pm.
