Ducks Take Two; Pioneers on Losing End
STEVENS
Stevens Institute of Technology softball senior
Kayla Berardi recorded her 500
th career strike out Thursday in the Ducks 7-1 win over The College of Brockport.
The win was followed by a 5-2 win over Lasell College to continue the Ducks historic 8-0 start. The losses dropped Brockport and Lasell to 5-6 and 3-7 respectively.
Stevens 7, Brockport 1
Both teams traded zeroes in the first before the Ducks built their lead in the top of the second. A pair of walks and a bunt single loaded the bases with one out where sophomore
Gina Schnecker singled up the middle to score sophomores
Jessica Rees and
Emily Sellitti.
Berardi retired six of the next seven allowing Stevens to build its lead in the fourth. Freshman
Lauren Shirley worked a two-out walk with nobody on, and reached second after Schnecker was hit by a pitch. With two on and two outs, junior
Gavriella Risman-Jones ripped an RBI single to left to put Stevens up 3-0.
Berardi continued her dominance with scoreless innings the fourth, fifth and sixth before a Sellitti two run homer and a two run Brockport error ballooned the lead to 7-0 in the seventh.
The runs were more than enough for Berardi who surrendered a Brockport run in the bottom frame before striking out the final two batters of the game to seal the win.
Sellitti led the Ducks with three hits and two RBIs while Schecker added a hit and two RBIs. Berardi moved her record to 4-0 in the nine strike out performance.
Stevens 5, Lasell 2
Lasell struck first with a run in the second, but the Ducks answered their next time up with three in the third. With the bases loaded and two outs, senior
Jamie DeGennaro, Sellitti and freshman
Olivia Gemma walked in consecutive at bats to put the Ducks up 3-1.
A Lasell homer in the fourth cut the deficit down to one, but Gemma was able to limit the damage with scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth.
Looking for insurance, Gemma ripped an RBI single in the seventh to score one before freshman
Corinne Loncar followed with an RBI single in the next at bat.
The runs were enough for Gemma who worked around a two out single in the seventh to clinch the win.
Gemma struck out five in the complete game effort to stay unbeaten, while DeGennaro, Sellitti and Loncar chipped-in with RBIs.
UTICA
The Utica College softball team dropped both games on its fourth day at the DOT Richardson Spring Games. UC lost the opening game of the day, 9-4, to The College of New Jersey, before falling to nationally ranked No. 17 North Central College 12-1 in game two.
Utica 4, TCNJ 9- Game One Final
Senior transfer
Stephanie Siriano (Sauquoit, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) went 2-for-3 at the plate in the first game to pace the Pioneers. She now leads the squad with ten hits, including a team-best four extra base hits.
Cassie Smith (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central) was 1-for-3 with two RBI, and
Kassidy Ogren(Albany, NY/Colonie Central) also had one hit and one RBI.
Sabrina Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) and
Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown)combined for four strikeouts in the loss.
Utica 1, #17 North Central College (IL) 12- Game Two Final
The Cardinals proved to be too much for Utica as NCC cruised to its season-opening victory. Three players mustered hits on the day for Utica, led by freshman
Alaina Wickwire (Towanda, PA/Towanda) and
Kimberly Beattie (Levitton, NY/Division Ave), who were each 1-for-2.
Cassie Smith (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central) was 1-for-3 in game two. Freshman
Samantha Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) plated the Pioneers' only run.
Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) and
Brittany Meka (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) combined for nine strikeouts in the circle for UC.