Softball Splits on Day Two of Buzz Classic
3/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
SHU vs. KENNESAW STATE BOX SCORE (.html)
SHU vs. KENNESAW STATE BOX SCORE (.pdf)
SHU vs. HOWARD BOX SCORE (.html)
SHU vs. HOWARD BOX SCORE (.pdf)
WOODSTOCK, Ga. - The Seton Hall softball team snapped a seven-game slide by topping Howard, 10-6, in a wild affair at the Buzz Classic. The Pirates (2-7) dropped a 6-1 decision to Kennesaw State earlier in the day and will close out the tournament against Mercer at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.
Junior Katie Stilwell (Portage, Wis.) pitched a superb game despite taking the decision (0-3) against the Owls (10-5). The right-hander threw 6.1 innings, allowed just two earned runs and a career-high nine strikeouts.
The Owls took a slim, 1-0, lead in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Kelsey Kulk. Kennesaw State put runners on first and second with two outs when Jenna Closner hit a ball to short. Freshman Brittany Hammer (Manheim, Pa.) tried to flip the ball to second for the force, but misfired to allow another run to score.
Seton Hall committed two more errors in the seventh inning, which keyed a four-run frame to put the game out of reach.
The Pirates did have the tying run on deck in the bottom half of the seventh, loading the bases and scoring courtesy of a bases loaded walk by Nalin Bennett (East Syracuse, N.Y.) but could only put one run on the board.
In game two, the Bisons (1-6) took a 1-0 lead in the first after a single by Rebecca Kirschner ricocheted off of the glove of pitcher Hannah Hill (Fryeburg, Maine) to bring in a run.
Seton Hall answered in its next at bats after Nicole Loewenstein (Joppa, Md.) hit a ball into right-centerfield and the Howard outfielders collided allowing Loewenstein to reach second base. With two outs, freshman Kirby Groves (Blah, Pa.) launched her first career homer to put the Pirates on top, 2-1.
Christina Sborz tied the game in the fourth inning with a single to center to score Emily Johnson. Howard regained the lead, 3-2, later in the inning after Hill loaded the bases and Aisha Ledet legged out an infield single.
Once again, SHU responded in the top of the next inning to take over the lead. Bennett led the inning off with a walk, and Jeanette Ragucci (Glen Gardner, N.J.) singled in the infield. Both runners moved into scoring position after an advance on a fly out and stolen base to set the table for Loewenstein, who singled to centerfield to bring in both runners, giving the Pirates control, 4-3.
The Bison tacked on three runs in the bottom half of the inning after a pair of defensive breakdowns. Kirschner reached on an error to lead things off, and came around to score on an errant throw to first base to knot things up. Ciera Gordon punched a double to the gap in left center to make it 5-4, and a sacrifice fly gave Howard an insurance run.
Seton Hall began its thrilling seventh inning comeback with a solo shot from Brittany Schillizzi (Paramus, N.J.) with one away. Sophomore Kristen Kaelin (Parlin, N.J.) and Loewenstein followed with back-to-back walks, and Jamie Gates (Emmaus, Pa.) recorded an infield single to load the bases. The next batter was Hammer, who punched a base-knock to left to bring in the tying run and kept the bases full for Kirby Groves (Yardley, Pa.) to put the score back in favor of the Pirates, 7-6.
Freshman Cashel Gaffey (East Lyme, Conn.) was called upon to pinch hit and broke the game open with an unusual play. Gaffey launched the ball over the wall in left-centerfield, but passed Groves on first base. The umpires ruled Gaffey out at first, but three runs were plated giving the Hall the 10-6 edge.
Senior Ashley Forsyth (Freehold, N.J.) pitched a strong three innings in relief, allowing just one run and fanning four, to even her record at 2-2. Loewenstein, Hammer, Gates, and Groves all picked up two hits against the Bison.
