Seton Hall University
St. John's
Pirate Comeback Falls Short at STJ
3/30/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball
QUEENS, N.Y. – Trailing by three runs after the first inning the Seton Hall University softball team’s comeback at St. John’s University fell just short, as the Pirates lost, 4-2, on Saturday afternoon at Red Storm Field in Queens, N.Y.
Behind a big two-run home run from Erin Burner in the first inning the Red Storm ( jumped out to a 3-0 lead. But the Pirates fought back and had a chance to come back and tie it in the seventh.
Trailing 4-2 heading into the final inning Seton Hall threatened by putting runners at second and third with one out before St. John’s escaped the jam.
Sophomore Sam DeMasi (Lockport, Ill.) led off with a base hit to left center, moved over to second on a Jackie DiPietro (Horsham, Pa.) groundout to first and advanced to third with one out as speedy freshman Yasmin Harrell (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) laid down a bunt single.
Harrell went on to swipe second base, her second steal in as many innings, to represent the game-tying run in scoring position at second base. Ashley Beza, who came in to pitch following DeMasi’s base hit, retired senior Brittany Hammer (Manheim, Pa.) and sophomore Danielle DeStaso (Congers, N.Y.) to prevent a Pirate comeback.
Just an inning earlier Seton Hall had cut a four run deficit in half to pull right back into the game. Harrell started things off with a single through left and wasted no time moving into scoring position by stealing second.
Harrell was at third following a Hammer sacrifice bunt and DeStaso brought her home with a single to short, Seton Hall’s first run of the game. DeStaso eventually moved all the way up to third and scored on a bases loaded wild pitch by St. John’s started Tori Free, cutting the Red Storm lead down to two.
DeLuca finished the day batting 3-for-3 and concluded the St. John’s series hitting 5-for-8 with a run scored and three RBI. Harrell went 2-for-4 with a pair of steals and a run scored on Saturday, hitting .500 (6-for-12) with a team-high four runs scored and three steals in the series.
DeStaso threw all six innings at pitcher for Seton Hall, giving up just one earned run after the first inning and finishing the game with seven strikeouts.
Seton Hall returns to action on Wednesday, April 3, when it heads to Chicago, Ill., for a midweek BIG EAST doubleheader at DePaul University. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m., in the Windy City.
