Softball Wins Classic; Tops Sacred Heart, 3-1
3/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
BOX SCORE (.pdf)
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Seton Hall softball team topped Sacred Heart, 3-1, in the championship game of the Seton Hall Pirate Classic.
Freshman Meredith Henze (Elkton, Md.) went 3-for-3 with an RBI en route to be named most valuable player of the tournament. Sophomore Hannah Hill (Fryeburg, Maine) went the distance for her third win of the weekend to take home most outstanding pitcher.
The Pirates (12-13) took a 2-0 lead in the second inning after a two-run double to the gap in right-center by Nicole Loewenstein (Joppa, Md.). However, the Pioneers (9-9) cut the SHU lead in half in the top of the third.
Taylor Froelich led off with a double that dropped on the line in leftfield. She moved to third after a sacrifice bunt, and scored after Courtney Lee hit a fly ball deep enough to right to score on the tag.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Pirates put runners on first and second and a sacrifice bunt by Kristen Kaelin (Parlin, N.J.) pushed them into scoring position. Henze dropped in a single to right field to give Seton Hall a big insurance run.
Sacred Heart looked to mount a comeback in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with just one out. Hill struck out pinch-hitter Erin McAndrews looking for out number two and shortstop Maria DeLuca (Cedar Grove, N.J.) made the play of the game. On a short blooper to shallow left field, DeLuca made a diving catch with her back to home plate to retire the side.
Hill improved to 5-8 after scattering six hits and striking out two.
Head coach Ray Vander May now has 398 career victories and will look to earn win number 400 next weekend when Seton Hall hosts a three-game series against Pittsburgh at Ivy Hill Park.
SHU and the Panthers will begin the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 26, marking the BIG EAST openers for both teams. First pitch is slated for noon.
Seton Hall Pirate Classic All-Tournament Team
Most Outstanding Pitcher
Hannah Hill - Seton Hall
Most Valuable Player
Meredith Henze - Seton Hall
All-Tournament Team
Meredith Henze - Seton Hall
Hannah Hill - Seton Hall
Marissa Muoio - Seton Hall
Liz Tspouras - Sacred Heart
Taylor Froelich - Sacred Heart
Nicole Sidor - Sacred Heart
Kate Bowen - Manhattan
Jaci Rahey - Manhattan
Carly Feiro - Lafayette
Gwen Turner - Lafayette
