Weehawken, N.J. – The Stevens Institute of Technology softball team earned wins in both ends of a doubleheader to sweep King's College in a Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom clash on Saturday.
The Ducks (22-12, 7-5 MAC Freedom) extended their winning streak to eight games as they topped the Monarchs (11-23, 3-9 MAC Freedom) 14-3 in five innings before taking game two 6-1.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Stevens put up a two-spot in its first at-bat, using the speed at the top of the lineup.
Emma Quattrochi led off with an infield hit and moved to third on a stolen base and wild pitch.
Allison Mitloff walked and stole second before
Carmelita Murphy-Brown brought Quattrochi home with a groundout.
Jessica Hsu was up next and hit a fly ball to center field that was deep enough to score Mitloff from third.
Hsu set the next six Monarchs down before the Ducks padded their lead in the third. Mitloff and Murphy-Brown led off with walks as Hsu and
Isabela Lipsky followed with RBI singles to push the lead to 4-0. Two batters later,
Kacey DiPasquale laced a double to right-center, scoring both runners. The Ducks capped the scoring when
Riley Lawrence hit a ground ball to first that was not fielded cleanly, allowing DiPasquale to score from second.
King's strung together three runs in the fourth to dig into the lead. The Monarchs loaded the bases with two outs, but Lawrence snagged a grounder up the middle and stepped on second for the force out.
The Ducks broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth. Mitloff singled and stole second before Hsu reached on an error, scoring Mitloff. Singles by Lipsky and
Lilian Cournoyer loaded the bases, and both Lipsky and pinch-runner
Ella Tozduman scored on a wild pitch.
Isabelle Won kept the inning going with an RBI double and later scored on another King's error. Murphy-Brown polished off the inning with a two-run single through the left side, plating Lawrence and Quattrochi. Hsu put the Monarchs down in order in the fifth to close out the opener.
Much like game one, Stevens broke through with a run in the first inning of game two. Quattrochi reached on an infield single and stole second and third. On the steal of third, the throw went awry, allowing the junior to score.
Kyra Fischer retired the first six hitters she faced before King's opened the third with a leadoff single. The Monarchs were unable to capitalize, however, as the senior retired the next three batters.
King's tied the game in the fifth, scoring on a fielder's choice to third base. The Ducks used a big sixth inning to take control. Mitloff and Murphy-Brown led off with singles before a double steal moved both into scoring position. Hsu singled back through the box, scoring both to make it 3-1. Stevens later loaded the bases and Fischer helped out her own cause, delivering a two-run single. The Ducks batted around, and Mitloff capped the high-scoring inning by drawing a bases-loaded walk. Staked to the big lead, Fischer came back out for the seventh and retired the Monarchs in order.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Hsu scattered five hits and allowed just three runs in the opener, striking out two.
- Quattrochi, Lipsky, and DiPasquale all had two hits in game one.
- Murphy-Brown knocked in three runs, while Hsu and DiPasquale also added multiple RBI in game one.
- Mitloff went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, while Quattrochi added a pair of steals.
- Hsu was 2-for-3 with two RBI in game two.
- Fischer earned the 31st win of her career, moving one game behind current assistant coach Christine LaRochelle for third all-time.
UP NEXT
The Ducks close out their non-conference slate on Wednesday as they host Manhattanville College at Weehawken Waterfront Park for a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m.
