Seton Hall University
Central Michigan
Softball Falls to Central Michigan 7-4
2/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
SAN DIEGO, CALIF. - The Seton Hall University softball team fell short in its final game at the 25th Annual Campbell/Cartier Classic on Sunday morning in San Diego, Calif., falling to Central Michigan 7-4.
After falling behind 5-2 in the fifth, the Pirates rallied for two, cutting the deficit to one, before Central Michigan pulled away with runs in the sixth and seventh innings.
Central Michigan jumped out to a 2-0 lead two batters into the game. SHU starter Danielle DeStaso (Congers, N.Y.) struck out leadoff hitter Lacy Tolfree, but she swung on a wild pitch, reaching first on the play. Chelsea DeLamielleure went on to homer to left, and suddenly it was 2-0.
DeStaso retired the next three, and the Pirates were able to draw even in the bottom half of the frame. Junior Yasmin Harrell (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) singled to left to lead off the rally, stole second, and scored easily as senior Whitney Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) blasted a triple to right center.
DeStaso helped her own cause, bringing Jones home with an RBI groundout to second two batters later.
The Chippewas were back up by one heading into the fifth, when a triple off the bat of CarolAnn Sexauer brought Tolfree home for a second time. With a runner at third and just one out, Central Michigan opted for a squeeze play with Trista Cox laying down a bunt to third. Freshman Alexis Walkden (Cibolo, Texas) tried to catch Sexauer at home, but the run scored and it was 5-2.
Again Seton Hall responded, matching those two runs with a pair of its own later in the inning. Sophomore Noel Lent (Yaphanic, N.Y.) hit a solo homer to left, cutting the deficit to two. Jones came up with her second extra-base knock of the day, doubling to left center, scored on an Alyssa Prukop (Coto de Caza, Calif.) double to left.
Central Michigan added runs in the sixth and seventh innings to move back in front by three. In the bottom of the seventh, Harrell singled to right with one out to try and start a Pirate rally. Jones drew a walk to make it two on with one out, but SHU stranded both along the base paths.
DeStaso fell to 2-1 after pitching six innings, giving up six runs, four earned, with a season-high eight strikeouts. Lent (2-for-3), Harrell (2-for-4) and Jones (2-for-3) all recorded multi-hit games for The Hall.
Seton Hall returns to action next weekend, with a three-day tournament at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C. The Pirates open competition on Friday, Feb. 20, against Lafayette at 10 a.m., and Virginia Tech at 12:30 p.m.
