Softball Splits Double-Header at Providence

GAME ONE BOX SCORE (.html)

GAME ONE BOX SCORE (.pdf)

GAME TWO BOX SCORE (.html)

GAME TWO BOX SCORE (.pdf)

 

PROVIDENCE, R.I. The Seton Hall softball team rallied from four-runs down twice to defeat Providence, 10-9, in game one of a double-header. The Pirates (18-20-1, 6-8) overcame two-run deficits on two occasions in the night-cap, but fell short, 7-5, after a walk-off home run by Christy Becker.

Trailing, 9-7, in game one, freshman Kristen Kaelin’s (Parlin, N.J.) three-run homer in the top of the seventh inning sealed the come-from-behind victory.

In a strange start to the game, Seton Hall recorded five hits in the first inning, but was only able to score one run. Sophomore Michelle Reed (Wrightstown, N.J.) reached on an infield single, but was caught stealing before Kealan Waldron (Oak Park, Ill.) recorded a base-hit.

Sophomore Brittany Schillizzi (Paramus, N.J.) hit a hard grounder to the right-side that struck Waldron on the base path, who was called out on the play. Kaelin singled through a hole behind second base. Freshman Nicole Loewenstein (Joppa, Md.) hit a grounder to the second baseman, but the Friar first baseman was not covering the base. Schillizzi rounded third on the play and avoided a tag at the plate to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead.

Providence erased the deficit in the bottom of the inning, putting up five runs off of senior Kim Schweitzer (Syracuse, N.Y.). Justine Stratton delivered the biggest blow of the inning, hitting a three-run round tripper.

In the second, the Pirates loaded the bases for Waldron who tied the score, 5-5, with a grand-slam home run. Senior Shannon Pease (Binghamton, N.Y.) started the inning with a walk, and Leah Menichetti (Jessup, Pa.) reached on a bunt single. Sophomore Nalin Bennett (East Syracuse, N.Y.) sacrificed both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice, and Reed drew a walk to set the table for Waldron.

The Friars regained the lead in their half of the frame, after an RBI double from Michelle Huber, and made it a 7-5 game after two errors in the third inning led to a single by Katelyn Revins that went just out of Menichetti’s reach at second base with two outs.

Christy Becker extended the Providence lead to 9-5 in the fourth with a two-run blast off of junior pitcher Danielle Zanzalari (Carteret, N.J.).

A solo shot from Pease pulled Seton Hall within three in the fifth, and a bases loaded walk made it 9-7 in the sixth inning.

In the seventh, Reed legged out an infield single and a double by Waldron put both runners in scoring position. Kaelin pulled a big fly over the wall in left-center field to put the Pirates on top.

Sophomore Katie Stilwell (Portage, Wisc.) pitched two and two thirds inning of scoreless relief to earn her first victory of the season.

Each player in the Pirates’ starting lineup recorded a hit, and finished with 17 in the game. Providence had 13 in the two-hour and thirty minute contest. Waldron and Kaelin each went 3-for-4 in the game.

Terese Bertel laced a single to leftfield off of Ashley Forsyth (Freehold, N.J.) to give the Friars a 1-0 edge in the second inning of game two.

Becker added an insurance run in the third with a home run to start the inning.

Seton Hall put up three runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead, 3-2. Waldron singled off the wall in centerfield, and Kaelin sent a moon-shot well beyond the leftfield fence to tie the score. Loewenstein singled and Pease drew a walk, and both runners advanced into scoring position after a passed ball. Senior Amanda Winn (Manahawkin, N.J.) drove in the go-ahead run with a groundout.

The Earl Weaver-ball continued in the bottom of the fourth with a solo-home run from Kim Pelland to tie the game, 3-3, and Mary Rose Sheehy belted a two-run shot, giving the lead back to Providence.

In the sixth inning, Pease drew a walk and Menichetti doubled off the wall in leftfield to put runners on second and third. Bennett drove in both runners with a single to left to knot the game, 5-5.

Becker golfed a walk-off two-run homer in the seventh to end the game.

Forsyth took the loss and falls to 6-9.

Seton Hall returns home to face St. John’s on Wednesday, April 15, for a double-header beginning at 3:00 p.m.