Seton Hall University
Creighton
Pirates Blank Creighton to Win Series
4/13/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 13, 2014
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Seton Hall University softball team recorded just one base hit, but it was all they would need, as junior Danielle DeStaso (Congers, N.Y.) threw her second complete game victory in as many days, this time a two-hit shutout, to lead the Pirates to a 1-0 win over Creighton University in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field.
Sophomore Jackie DiPietro (Horsham, Pa.) scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the third inning, reaching on an infield base hit to third. From there Seton Hall capitalized on what proved to be a very costly error on a Faith Laudano (Islip, N.Y.) sacrifice bunt attempt.
Laudano attempted to move DiPietro into scoring position with a bunt that settled just in front of home plate, only Creighton catcher Bri Lingle overthrew first base, allowing DiPietro to move all the way over to third on the play.
With one out sophomore Yasmin Harrell (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) connected on a grounder to first base, and DiPietro showed no hesitation in breaking for home. Jen Daro fielded the ball cleanly and threw home to prevent the run, but DiPietro deftly slid under Lingl's tag attempt and touched home for what ultimately proved to be the winning run.
Meanwhile DeStaso was cruising on the mound, giving up just two hits in seven innings with five strikeouts against no walks. She needed only 92 pitches to record her second complete game shutout of the season and she kept Creighton from ever advancing a runner to third. DeStaso improved to 5-5 on the year and 3-1 in the BIG EAST; her conference earned run average is now just 2.30.
It didn't hurt that Seton Hall's defense came up with a handful of spectacular plays in the field to help preserve the shutout.
The Creighton half of the second came to an end when senior second baseman Maria DeLuca (Cedar Grove, N.J.) made a diving catch on an Allie Reinhart hanging line drive just past the edge of the infield, fully extending as she dove into right field to record the out.
The second defensive gem came in the top of the third when the Bluejays had perhaps their best chance at plating a run. The game was still scoreless as Creighton saw its first two batters of the inning reach base; Jen Daro hit a single that dropped between DeStaso and second base, and Jessica Lewis was the beneficiary of a mishandled sacrifice bunt by Laudano at home.
With two on and no out Kelsey Allender hit a line drive toward short, only to see Harrell reach across her body to make a play before planting and throwing strike to DeLuca at second base to catch Daro for a double play. Suddenly a strong scoring opportunity resulted in just a runner at first with no outs, and DeStaso got Ellen Homan to fly out to center to end the inning.
In Saturday afternoon's victory DeStaso withstood a Creighton rally attempt in the seventh but she retired the Bluejays in order on Sunday, striking out power hitter Liz Dike for the second out of the inning and getting Reinhart to pop out to Laudano, who made a sprawling catch in foul territory to end the game.
Seton Hall improves to 5-4 in the BIG EAST and the Pirates are 5-1 against conference foes on their home turf, picking up a sweep of Providence College two weeks ago. SHU is also now 7-1 when holding a lead heading into the seventh inning.
The Pirates will step out of conference for a single game against regional power Hofstra on Tuesday, April 15, in Hempstead, N.Y., at 4 p.m. BIG EAST competition resumes on Thursday, when Seton Hall opens up a three-game series at St. John's with a doubleheader against the Red Storm starting at 12 p.m.
