Seton Hall University
Bryant University
Lead Slips Away in Late Innings in Loss to Bryant
3/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 16, 2014
CLEARWATER, FLA. - The Seton Hall University softball team saw a five run lead slip away in the late innings as the Pirates fell to Bryant University, 7-5, in their Spring Break finale in Clearwater.
Seton Hall was in firm control of the game before Bryant mounted a comeback with seven runs, only three of them earned, in the fifth and sixth innings. SHU struck first with a score in the top of the second. Sophomore Jackie DiPietro (Horsham, Pa.) led off with a single and eventually scored on a Colltey Sheldon (Peoria, Ariz.) base hit, taking advantage of a Lauren Keast throwing error in left to take home on the sequence.
Meanwhile senior Jen Metzger (Pine Hill, N.J.) was in a groove in the circle, allowing just one Bryant base runner through the first three innings, and only two through the first four frames, both reaching via walk.
It appeared as though there would be plenty of run support as a pair of Bryant fielding errors in the fourth contributed to a four-run SHU inning that saw the lead increase to 5-0. The Pirates needed just one base hit to plate four in the fourth. Danielle DeStaso (Congers, N.Y.) benefitted from a Liana Ogata fielding error at second to open the inning, and the Pirates' first two runs scored as Taylor Bell mishandled a hard hit grounder at the hot corner with nobody out.
Sheldon doubled in junior Sara Haefeli (Montclair, N.J.) to make it 4-0, eventually coming in to score when sophomore Faith Laudano (Islip, N.Y.) hit a sacrifice fly to center with just one out.
The Bulldog comeback began in the fifth. Pinch hitter Hayley Bottino led off with Bryant's first base hit of the game and a pair of walks loaded the bases for Taylor Burger, who scored two off an RBI single.
The sixth inning started in similar fashion as the Bulldogs had two on with no outs thanks to a hit batter and an error. Lauren Guy tied the game at 5-5 with a base hit and scored off a Kendall Corder base knock to give Bryant its first lead of the game. Seton Hall did make a comeback attempt in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with no outs, but Bryant starter Elle Madsen induced a game-inning double play groundout to end the threat.
Senior Maria DeLuca (Cedar Grove, N.J.) went 2-for-4 and Sheldon was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored to lead the Pirates offensively while DiPietro went 1-for-4 with two runs scored.
Seton Hall will host its BIG EAST and home opener this weekend as it welcomes the Providence Friars to Essex County Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field. First pitch for Saturday's double header is scheduled for 12 p.m., and Sunday afternoon's series finale will start at 12 p.m.
