Seton Hall University
Arizona State
Softball Falls at Fourth-Ranked Arizona State
2/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 22, 2014
TEMPE, ARIZ. - The Seton Hall University softball teamed opened competition at the Arizona State Diamond Devil Invitational with a 12-1 loss in five innings to #4 Arizona State on Friday night.
The Pirates (3-5) manufactured a run in the top of the second inning to knot the score 1-1 early in the action. Senior Maria DeLuca (Cedar Grove, N.J.) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and moved around the bases thanks to a Jackie DiPietro (Horsham, Pa.) base hit and a wild pitch.
With two outs junior Whitney Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) put a ball in play to the left side and the inning was extended when shortstop Cheyenne Coyle committed an error, allowing DeLuca to score from third.
Arizona State (13-0) regained the lead by scoring four in the bottom of the frame. A pair of walks issued by Seton Hall reliever Danielle DeStaso (Congers, N.Y.) put two on for Sashel Palacios, who plated the first run with an RBI double to left. In the next at-bat Coyle cleared the bases with a three-run homer to left center, and the Sun Devils led 5-1.
The Pirates put two base runners on with two outs in the third but were unable to chip away at the Arizona State lead. After Seton Hall held the home team without a run in the last of the third, the Sun Devils extended the lead with seven runs in the fourth behind the strength of three home runs, including a Raianna Dobbs grand slam with one out.
Casey Moses (Lower Burrell, Pa.) started at pitcher for Seton Hall and fell to 1-1 on the year, allowing eight earned runs with a strikeout. Senior Meredith Henze (Elkton, Md.) saw her team-leading eight-game hitting streak come to an end as she failed to record a base hit for the first time this season.
Seton Hall will play two when it resumes play at the Diamond Devil Invitational on Saturday. The Pirates face Drake at 12 p.m. and Idaho State at 4:30 p.m. (ET).
