Seton Hall University
Syracuse
Softball Edged in Series Finale
4/21/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Seton Hall University softball team was edged by the Syracuse University Orange, 4-3, in its series finale on Sunday afternoon at the Skytop Softball Stadium in Syracuse, N.Y.
Seton Hall came back from a three-run deficit to tie the game up with two runs on a Meredith Henze (Elkton, Md.) base hit in the top of the sixth inning, but just as they had done all day the Orange used the long ball to retake the lead, this time on a Danielle Chitkowski solo home run to left field to lead off the sixth inning.
The first big scoring swing of the game came in the third inning as Syracuse right fielder Shirley Daniels was involved in a pair of plays resulting in a two-run swing in the Orange’s favor.
With two outs in the top of the third sophomore Danielle DeStaso (Congers, N.Y.) hit a deep fly ball to right field, one that appeared as if it would clear the fence if not for a strong defensively play by Daniels, who made the catch at the wall.
Daniels led off for Syracuse in the next half inning and she homered to center to give Syracuse a 1-0 lead. Two batters later Jasmine Watson hit the Orange’s second solo home run of the frame, this time down the left field line to make it 2-0.
Twice Seton Hall threatened to cut into the lead only to have Syracuse pull off inning-ending double plays to escape the inning.
In the fourth freshman Alex Rabbetts (Corona, Calif.) laced a double down the left field line and moved up to third on a pass ball. Sophomore Colltey Sheldon (Peoria, Ariz.) hit a grounder to short and Rabbetts was caught in a run down between third and home, she was tagged out at third and Sheldon was aggressive around the base paths and was caught trying to take second.
Facing a three-run deficit in the fifth, Seton Hall was able to cut into the lead only to have another double play end a significant threat.
Henze led off the inning with a single into the hole at short and freshman Jackie DiPietro (Horsham, Pa.) pinch ran for her at first. Sophomore Sara Haefeli (Montclair, N.J.) was the next to the plate, hitting a grounder to pitcher Stacy Kuwik that was fielded cleanly, but the throw to catch DiPietro at second sailed into right field. DiPietro advanced to third and SHU had runners on the corners.
A delayed steal that saw Haefeli safe at second and DiPietro come home made it 3-1. Two batters later a strong defensive play ended the inning. Freshman Yasmin Harrell (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) lined out to second and Haefeli was caught at third.
The SHU sixth inning was prolonged by what was nearly a catastrophic error for Mary Dombrowski at second base. She dropped a DeStaso fly ball to give the Pirates a runner on first and the Pirates quickly loaded the bases as Rabbetts was hit by a pitch and Sheldon singled to left.
Henze stepped up with the two-RBI base hit up the middle, a ball Dombrowski got a glove on but couldn’t handle and the game was briefly tied. Chitkowski’s home run led off the Syracuse sixth and proved to be the game winner in yet another one-run BIG EAST game for the Pirates.
Sheldon and Henze were both 2-for-3 at the plate for Seton Hall. DeStaso struck out five in six innings of action at pitcher, falling to 14-12 overall.
Seton Hall returns to action on Tuesday, April 23, when it hosts USF in a midweek BIG EAST double header at Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field in South Orange, N.J. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
