Seton Hall University
IPFW
Softball Falls to IPFW in Season Opener
2/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 7, 2014
BUIES CREEK, N.C. - The Seton Hall University softball team fell to IPFW, 11-5, on Friday afternoon in its 2014 season opener at the Campbell University Hampton Inn Stampede Tournament in Buies Creek, N.C.
A big third inning made the difference for the Mastodons who hung eight runs on the board in the bottom half of the frame to take control of the game.
Seton Hall was off to a strong start and led 1-0 thanks to pitcher Danielle DeStaso (Congers, N.Y.) leading off the top of the second inning with a solo home run to right field, and in the circle she allowed just one base runner through the first two innings of play.
That changed in the third as IPFW loaded the bases and brought the game-tying run home before the Pirates were able to record an out. By the end of the inning the Mastodons had scored eight runs on six hits, four of which were unearned because of a fielding error early in the inning.
The cushion would not remain at seven for very long as Seton Hall charged back with four runs in the next half inning to cut the IPFW lead down to 8-5. Two of the Pirates' first three batters of the inning were hit by a pitch, and senior Meredith Henze (Elkton, Md.) doubled to left center to score DeStaso from second and start the comeback attempt.
Junior Kaylyn Sanbower (Etters, Pa.) registered the other RBI of the frame, singling to left to score Whitney Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) and the Pirates scored twice more on wild pitches.
Freshman right hander Lauren Fischer (Robbinsville, N.J.) had relieved DeStaso at pitcher in the third inning, and after giving up two hits initially, allowed just one over the following two innings. Fischer kept the IPFW offense at bay in the fourth and fifth, but Seton Hall was not able to chip away any further at its deficit.
The Mastodons tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the sixth, with Dani Pugh driving in two thanks to a one-out double to centerfield.
DeStaso, 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Henze, 2-for-3 with a run and RBI, each recorded multi-hit games for the Pirates. DeStaso fell to 0-1 in the circle, giving up seven runs, three of them earned, over 2.2 innings.
Seton Hall is scheduled to play two on the second day of the Campbell Inn Stampede Tournament. The Pirates face tournament host Campbell on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 3 p.m., and Valparaiso at 8 p.m.
