WEEHAWKEN, N.J. – The Arcadia University softball team dropped a pair of non-conference contests Thursday night at Stevens Institute of Technology; first by a score of 9-3, then 7-5. The Knights fall to 7-3 on the season while the Ducks are now 2-0.
 
Game 1:  Stevens Tech 9, Arcadia 3
The Knights' offense wasted no time getting to work as freshman Jackie Bilotti sent an RBI double to right center in her first career at-bat to score senior Nicki Larro, who singled one batter earlier. Sophomore Amanda Hess came to the dish next to score Bilotti on a double to left center.
 
Following a lightning delay, a seven-run retaliatory inning from the Ducks in the bottom of the second proved to be the difference in the game. The Ducks' first six batters of the inning reached base, scoring four runs before an out was recorded. A two-RBI single to the shortstop by Gavriella Risman-Jones put Stevens Tech ahead for good with a score of 4-2.
 
Hess led off the top of the fourth with a solo homer to left to score Arcadia's final run.
 
Senior Erin Wilson (4-1) suffered her first loss of the season as she surrendered nine runs (five earned) on seven hits while walking four and striking out three. Christine LaRochelle picked up the win for Stevens allowing three runs on five hits while walking three and striking out none in four innings of work.
 
Game 2: Stevens Tech 7, Arcadia 5
The Scarlet and Grey looked to rebound in the second game, as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Senior Sara Boyadjis reached on an error by the shortstop to lead off the inning, Larro laid down a bunt single in the next at-bat and moved to second on an error by the catcher. With runners on second and third and no outs, Bilotti sent a double to right center to plate both runners. With Bilotti now on third due to a wild pitch, freshman Kayla Resh reached on a one-out error by the shortstop that allowed Bilotti to cross the plate.
 
Back-to-back batters drove in runs for the Ducks in the bottom half of the frame, first on a one-out RBI single to first by Farryl Groder, then a ground out to short by Corinne Loncar that allowed Risman-Jones to come home from third.
 
Sophomore Nicole Iasiello hit her second round-tripper of the season with a two-out, solo shot in the top of the fifth to give the Knights at 4-2 lead. Hess, who entered the game as a pinch hitter to lead off the top of the sixth, came home when Boyadjis reached on a two-out error by the third baseman.
 
Arcadia carried a 5-2 lead into the seventh and threatened to score more having runners reach second and third before getting out of the jam by recording three straight outs. All five batters reached safely for the Ducks in the bottom of the seventh. A two-RBI single to center brought the hosts within one before Lauren Shirley sent a walk off, three-run home run over the left field fence.
 
Resh (0-1) took the loss in her debut, allowing seven runs on 11 hits while walking one and fanning six. Marissa Cappello gets the win in relief for Stevens Tech, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits while walking two and striking out four in three innings of work.
 
Overall:

• Hess: 3-3, 2B, HR, 2RBI, 2 R
• Bilotti: 3-7, 2 2B, 3RBI, 2 R
• The team went 4-4 on stolen base attempts
• Hess and Iasiello recorded their team-leading fourth multi-hit games.
• Boyadjis has reached base safely in nine straight games.
• Iasiello and Larro are each on three-game hit streaks

 
Next Up: The Scarlet and Grey will have its home opener on Wednesday when Widener comes to town for a MAC Commonwealth doubleheader.