GLENSIDE, Pa. - The Arcadia University softball program suffered a pair of losses to Stevens Saturday at Blankley Field to conclude its four-game series with the Ducks, dropping the opener 7-3 before falling in nine innings following a late rally, 6-4.
Alexis Burge hit her fifth home run of the season - a three-run shot to right - in Saturday's opener before
Brooke Ward came up with a go-ahead two-run triple in the sixth with the Knights trailing by one, but Stevens rallied with two runs in the seventh before plating two in the ninth to pick up the win.
ARCADIA 3, STEVENS 7
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Saturday's opener proved to be an intense pitchers' duel between
Kylee Schwind and Stevens' Jess Masur traded scoreless innings for the first four frames. Schwind allowed only two hits through the first four innings, but the Ducks' lineup came to life to the tune of three runs on four hits in the fifth to take the first lead of the day.
-Stevens added another run in the top of the sixth on a run-scoring double, but
Brooke Ward and
Alex DeStefano started a rally in the home half of the sixth with back-to-back singles to lead off the frame. Burge followed with a towering shot to straightaway right for her fifth home run of the season, bringing the Knights within one, 4-3.
-Despite Arcadia's efforts to get back within reach, the Ducks plated two key insurance runs in the top of the seventh to stretch their lead to four. The Knights did not go away quietly in the last of the seventh, however, as singles from
Jackie Zwicker,
Camryn Bogert, and DeStefano loaded the bases with two outs, but Masur induced the game-ending groundout to secure the 7-3 victory.
KNIGHTS OFFENSIVE LEADERS
-DeStefano: 2-4, R
-Burge: 1-3, 3-Run HR
KNIGHTS PITCHING LEADERS
-Schwind: 5.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 K
ARCADIA 4, STEVENS 6 (FINAL/9)
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Stevens was first on the board again in game two with a run-scoring double in the second and the Knights rallied to even the score at one in the home half of the frame.
Megan Sooy led off with a single back through the middle before a walk to
Allison LaRochelle and an infield knock from Zwicker loaded the bases with two outs. Ward then worked a five-pitch walk to force in a run and draw the Knights even at one.
-A lone Stevens run in the fourth broke the 1-1 tie as the Knights tried to regain a rhythm offensively in the late innings. Following a 1-2-3 inning from
Juliana Presto in the top of the sixth, a pair of walks put the tying run in scoring position for the Knights with two away in the inning and Ward coming to the plate in another big spot. The senior delivered in a big way, driving an opposite-field triple to the base of the wall in right to give Arcadia its first lead of the day. DeSefano followed with a liner the other way that glanced off the glove of the diving shortstop to plate Ward, extending the Knight lead to 4-2.
-The Knights were unable to close out the win in the top of the seventh as Stevens plated a pair of of unearned runs, sending the game to extra innings in a 4-4 tie. Following a quiet eighth inning, the Ducks were set up with runners at second and third with one out in the ninth and attempted a bunt play that Sooy played perfectly, charging on the slow grounder and flipping to Burge at the plate who applied the tag. However, the next hitter in the Ducks lineup flared a two-out, two-run single just inside the line in shallow right to take a 6-4 lead before holding on for the win to complete the doubleheader sweep.
KNIGHTS OFFENSIVE LEADERS
-Ward: 2-3, 3 RBI, Go-ahead two-run triple in 6th
-Sooy/Costigan: 2-5
KNIGHTS PITCHING LEADERS
-Presto: 8.2 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 7 K
UP NEXT
Arcadia (15-7, 12-6 MAC Freedom) travels to Lycoming Tuesday for a midweek doubleheader scheduled for 3 p.m.
