Freshman Risman-Jones Has Strong Day for Softball Despite Doubleheader Loss at Chapman

3/12/2013 8:33:00 AM

Mark Becker

ORANGE, Calif. (March 11, 2013) – The Stevens Institute of Technology softball team dropped a pair of non-conference games at Chapman University on Monday night, falling 11-3 in the first game and 4-0 in the nightcap.
 
The Panthers, who have received votes in the most recent National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 Poll, improve to 14-2 on the season while the Ducks drop to 0-4 on the young season.
 
 
Chapman 4, Stevens 0
 
Junior shortstop Danielle DeFeo (Andover, N.J.) reached base on an error to start the first game, which freshman Gavriella Risman-Jones (New Boston, N.H.) immediately followed with a single, although DeFeo was caught in a rundown at second while trying to advance.  Risman-Jones promptly stole her third base of the season in as many games and advanced to third on a groundout, but senior Clair Strom (El Paso, Texas) was thrown out at first in the next at-bat as the right fielder made a quick play to get the Panthers out of the inning.
 
The Panthers took a one-run lead in the bottom of the second, getting two runners on with two outs and scoring on an error, then made it 2-0 in the third.  As Stevens struggled to get runners on base, Chapman finally put the game out of reach in the bottom of the sixth inning, tacking two more runs on to go up 4-0, which would be the final score.
 
Senior Molly Herforth (Pompton Plains, N.J.) took the loss for the Ducks, allowing three earned runs while striking out one hitter over six innings. 
 
 
Chapman 11, Stevens 3
 
DeFeo again reached base to start the second game, leading off with a walk.  Risman-Jones joined her on the basepaths with an infield single and Strom reached safely on an error at first, allowing DeFeo to score to put the Ducks up, 1-0.  Strom then stole second base to put runners on second and third with just one out, but a pair of strikeouts ended the inning.
 
Chapman loaded the bases with only one out in the bottom of the frame, eventually scoring three runs to take the 3-1 lead.  The Panthers tacked on three more runs in the second inning and another in the third to make it 7-1.
 
Stevens bounced back a bit in the fourth inning as DeFeo and Risman-Jones each singled a run in with the bases loaded  to cut the deficit to 4 runs.  Chapman would pick up three more runs on a homer in the bottom of the fourth, however, and added one more in the fifth inning to end the game.
 
Risman-Jones enjoyed a 4-6 day at the plate, including a perfect 3-3 in Game Two, with one run batted in and one stolen base.  DeFeo was 1-2 with a walk, run and RBI in the second game while sophomore Brianna Sandone (Haddon Township, N.J.) took the loss in the circle.
 
Sophomore designated player Karina Muniz (Granite Bay, Calif.) led the Panthers with a perfect 5-5 day at the plate, scoring three runs, driving in six, walking once, legging out a triple and belting a three-run home run.  Senior right fielder Jojo Wakabayashi (Yorba Linda, Calif.), senior left fielder Kerry Peterson (Belmont, Calif.) and freshman second baseman Larissa Rinauro (San Jose, Calif.) each went 3-3 in a game.  Senior Katie Terry (Seal Beach, Calif.) and sophomore Cassie Oregel (Anaheim, Calif.) picked up the complete game wins in the circle, with Oregel allowing just four hits and one hit-by-pitch while striking out six in Game One.
 
Head Coach Erica Mehalick and the Ducks will look to pick up their first wins of the season today, Tuesday, March 12 as they face Occidental College (9-9) in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Pacific time (4 p.m. Eastern).  The games will be broadcast via Live Stats, which is accessible through the softball schedule page.