GLENSIDE, Pa. - The Arcadia University softball program saw its MAC Freedom Tournament run come to an end in Sunday's winner-take-all game three of the semifinal round, as the third-seeded Knights fell to second-seeded Stevens, 7-1.
Alexa Vardiman and
Brooke Ward had multi-hit days at the plate to lead the Knights' offense, while
Juliana Presto struck out a pair of hitters in relief to finish the season with 112 strikeouts, good for fourth on the program's all-time single season leaders despite a shortened season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Stevens put the pressure on early with two-straight singles to open the game before both runners moved into scoring position with no outs. Schoellig followed with a fly ball to shallow right that
Madi Costigan charged in on and made the catch before firing to the plate to cut down the runner attempting to tag from third and score the game's first run. However, the Ducks got on the board with a two-out, run-scoring single to left before the Knights were able to get out of the inning.
-Arcadia answered immediately in the top of the second when
Megan Sooy drew a four-pitch walk ahead of
Alexa Vardiman's single back through the middle - the first of three hits for her on the day.
Kayla Pscolka moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt before
Morgan Marchesani plated pinch runner
Isabella O'Hare with a bunt out in front of the plate that the charging Stevens' third baseman attempted to flip to the catcher, but O'Hare's headfirst slide beat the throw.
-Madison Gemma's solo home run to center to lead off the bottom of the second swung the lead back in Stevens' favor before the Ducks padded their lead with three runs on three hits in the fourth thanks to a pair of run-scoring doubles. The Knights had the leadoff hitter reach base in each of the third, fourth, and fifth innings but were unable to cut into the four-run deficit.
-The Ducks added its final two insurance runs in the fifth via four hits in the inning. Arcadia threatened in the top of the sixth as Vardiman and
Alexis Burge started the frame with singles, but the Knights could not break through against Stevens' Jessie Masur as the Ducks punched their ticket to the MAC Freedom Championship with a 7-1 victory.
KNIGHTS OFFENSIVE LEADERS
-Vardiman: 3-3
-Ward: 2-2, BB
KNIGHTS PITCHING LEADERS
-Presto: 2.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 K
