Seton Hall University
Drexel
Softball Rolls Past Drexel in Five, 9-1
2/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 15, 2014
GREENVILLE, N.C. - The Seton Hall University softball team rode a hot start and an impressive pitching performance from junior Danielle DeStaso (Congers, N.Y.) to a 9-1 win in five innings over Drexel University at the East Carolina Pirate Snow Classic on Saturday evening.
SHU was scheduled to face tournament host ECU later in the day, but that game was cancelled as a result of lengthy rain delays earlier in the day.
In the win over Drexel, DeStaso limited the Dragons to five hits in five innings, striking out seven batters in the process, to improve to 1-1 on the year. She also helped her own cause by going 1-for-4 at the plate with a double and two RBI.
Her double came during the Pirates' six run first inning, which put the game firmly in their control from the outset. Seton Hall sent 12 batters to the plate in the first but needed just three hits to manufacture the six scores.
Sophomore centerfielder Yasmin Harrell (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) led off the frame walk, stole second, and moved over to third on a fielding error by the Drexel starter. Senior Maria DeLuca (Cedar Grove, N.J.) brought her home with a sacrifice bunt and the big inning was underway.
DeStaso's double scored junior Colltey Sheldon (Peoria, Ariz.), who reached on the fielding error earlier in the inning. A walk and hit batsman loaded the bases for junior Sara Haefeli (Montclair, N.J.), who drew an RBI walk to make it 2-0. Junior Whitney Jones (Skowhegan, Maine), sophomore Faith Laudano (Islip, N.Y.) and Harrell also tallied RBIs.
Seton Hall tacked on another run in the second as red hot third baseman Meredith Henze (Elkton, Md.) homered to left field, her team leading fourth of the season, which is also already a career high just five games into the year. With two outs in the bottom of the third inning DeLuca drove home Harrell with a single to left to make it 8-1.
The Pirates rounded out the scoring with one more run in the last of the fifth, which wrapped up the eight-run five inning victory. Sophomore Jackie DiPietro (Horsham, Pa.) led off with a base hit to right and advanced to third thanks to a DeLuca double to the gap in left center. In the next at-bat DeStaso grounded out to the pitcher on the right side allowing DiPietro to come home from third and end the game.
DeLuca finished the game batting 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI, Harrell went 1-for-3 with two stolen bases and a run scored, and Haefeli walked three times, scoring once, and oddly never getting credit for an at-bat as a result.
Seton Hall will play Delaware State and host ECU as the Pirate Snow Classic continues on Sunday. The Pirates face Delaware State at 10 a.m., and ECU at 2 p.m.
