Softball Swept by USF, 5-3 & 5-2

Danielle Steinseifzer

TAMPA, Fla. – The Seton Hall softball team fell to 0-6 in the BIG EAST with two losses at South Florida on Friday at the USF Softball Field, dropping game one, 5-3, and game two by a score of 5-2. The Pirates (16-18) could not come up with the big hit in either game and were victimized by a big inning by USF in each contest.

Seton Hall led early in both games but could not hold on. In game one, the Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning on a sacrifice fly by junior catcher Danielle Steinseifzer (Plano, Texas). SHU left runners on first and third, however, when senior shortstop Katie Pierce (Pittsfield, Mass.), the team’s leading hitter, struck out looking.

For the Pirates, freshman Ashley Arnett (Saugus, Calif.) got the start and did not allow a hit through the first three innings. In the bottom of the fourth, however, USF struck for four runs. A double, sacrifice and walk led to a bunt single suicide squeeze to make it 1-1, and after two straight RBI singles, another suicide squeeze gave the Bulls a 4-1 lead.

SHU came back in the sixth when senior Akoua Lonergan (Allentown, Pa.) led off with a walk and Steinseifzer reached on an error. Pierce hit into a fielder’s choice but another error caused all runners to be safe, loading the bases. Senior first baseman Jessica Schulien (Pequannock, N.J.) singled to left field to drive in two runs and cut the lead to 4-3.

Freshman Kim Schweitzer (Syracuse, N.Y.) had relieved Arnett in the fifth and she gave up an RBI single in the sixth that gave USF a 5-3 cushion. The Pirates struck out three times in the seventh and stranded a runner. Arnett (4.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) fell to 6-4 with the loss.

In game two, USF took a 1-0 lead off of junior righty Jessica Jones (Tyler, Texas) in the second inning on a walk, sacrifice and RBI single. The Pirates grabbed a 2-1 lead in the top of the third when sophomore Jenna Best (Medford, N.J.) and Schulien had back-to-back RBI singles.

Jones ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth when, with two outs, she gave up a double and the runner scored on an error. Jones’ own error with the bases loaded later in the inning allowed two runs to score and the Pirates could not overcome the three-run deficit. Jones fell to 3-8, giving up five runs (two earned) in 4.2 innings with two walks and three strikeouts.

Seton Hall left nine runners on base in the second game and 15 on base in the twinbill. In game two SHU out-hit USF, 8-6, led by two hits apiece from Steinseifzer and Pierce.

The Pirates return to action on Sunday when they travel to Louisville, ranked No. 20 in the nation, for an 11:00 a.m. doubleheader against the Cardinals.

Scoreboard

Seton Hall University Athletics

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