Seton Hall University
Robert Morris
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Softball Walks Off Against Robert Morris, 7-6
3/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
CLEARWATER, FLA. - The Seton Hall University softball team won in dramatic fashion on Sunday afternoon as senior Danielle DeStaso (Congers, N.Y.) walked off against Robert Morris University at the USF Under Armour Showcase with a final score of 7-6.
The Pirates entered the bottom of the seventh trailing 6-4, but junior Jackie DiPietro (Horsham, Pa.) sparked the final rally with an infield single to the left side and she was able to beat out the throw.
In the next at-bat, junior Yasmin Harrell (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) singled up the middle past the pitcher, advancing Dipietro to second. Then, following a Valerie Suto (Mercerville, N.J.) sacrifice bunt, senior Whitney Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) sent a base hit into center field, scoring both runners to knot the game at 6-6.
With two outs, Destaso pinch hit for sophomore, Chelsea Caynon (Litchfield, N.H.), and on a 2-0 count the senior drove the ball into the right-center field gap to push the Pirates to victory.
Seton Hall registered four of its eight hits during that final inning, coming back to win a game after seeing a late lead slip away to SIU-Edwardsville on Saturday. Sophomore Lauren Fischer (Robbinsville, N.J.) started and threw 4.1 innings, but was relieved by Casey Moses (Lower Burrell, Pa.) in the middle of the fifth.
Moses went on to throw the final 2.2 innings, giving up two runs on four hits, while picking up her second win of the year.
The Hall jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the ballgame in the bottom of the third inning. Harrell started that barrage of runs with an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error.
Jones drove her in on a sharply hit single right up the middle to give the Hall the first run of the day. Freshman Alexis Walkden (Cibolo, Texas) would hit a two-run shot out to left field, for what is already her seventh home run of the young season, as she is batting .324, slugging .946, and getting on base at a 44 percent clip.
Robert Morris did rally to tie the game at four in the top of the fifth. The Colonials' comeback started with a single from sophomore Jordan Gurganus, followed by a single by sophomore Stacey Capp. A Pirates' fielders' choice and error coupled with a walk allowed Robert Morris to get on the scoreboard.
RMU took the lead in the top of the seventh on a triple by junior Ashley Gerhart. She was driven in on a Kristen Gabelt double, and was driven in by senior Samantha Santillo, giving the Colonials that 6-4 lead before the Hall's comeback in the next half inning.
Seton Hall will be back in action in Clearwater, Fla., on Tuesday morning, as it takes on Western Michigan. First pitch is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
