GLENSIDE, Pa. - The Arcadia University softball program concluded its regular season schedule Sunday in a non-conference doubleheader with Alvernia, dropping both ends of the twinbill by finals of 1-0 and 4-3.
The Knights turn their attention to the MAC Freedom Tournament as the third seed, with the best-of-three opening round scheduled to begin Saturday against sixth-seeded DeSales from Blankley Field.
ARCADIA 0, ALVERNIA 1
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Alvernia plated the lone run of the game in the top of the first inning on a two-out, run-scoring single to center. The Knights were able to get the tying run in scoring position in each of the first two innings, but could not come up with the big hit to draw even with the Golden Wolves.
-
Juliana Presto went on to toss six-straight scoreless innings the rest of the way in the circle in a tough-luck loss, as the first-year scattered five hits over he final six frames while racking up six strikeouts.
-The Knights had their chances to bring the tying run across in the late innings as Arcadia had runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the seventh.
Brooke Ward and
Alex DeStefano both started the frame with singles to left before
Shannon Shea moved both runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt. With two outs,
Megan Sooy ripped a liner that was right at the Alvernia shortstop as the Golden Wolves escaped with a 1-0 win.
KNIGHTS OFFENSIVE LEADERS
-Costigan: 2-3
KNIGHTS PITCHING LEADERS
-Presto: L (6-4), 7 IP, 7 H, R, 6 K
ARCADIA 3, ALVERNIA 4
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Golden Wolves once again jumped out to an early lead, this time with four runs on one hit and two errors in the top of the first.
Brenna Dolan settled in to throw six scoreless innings the rest of the way while striking out seven in the complete-game effort.
-The Knights broke through with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit in half. Ward reached on a two-out infield hit before
Madi Costigan was hit by a pitch after working an eight-pitch at-bat. After a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position,
Morgan Tripodi worked the count full and lined a two-run single back through the middle.
-Arcadia staged a rally in the bottom of the seventh as Costigan and Tripodi both singled to lead off the inning to get the tying and winning runs aboard. The Golden Wolves were able to evade trouble yet again by retiring the next three batters in order to complete the sweep.
KNIGHTS OFFENSIVE LEADERS
-Tripodi: 2-4, 2 RBI
-Ward: 2-4, R, SB
KNIGHTS PITCHING LEADERS
-Dolan: L (4-1), 7 IP, 4 H, 4 R (1 ER), 7 K
UP NEXT
Arcadia opens the first round of the MAC Freedom Tournament Saturday as the third seed against sixth-seeded DeSales. First pitch of the best-of-three series is at 1 p.m.
