Gilbert's Home Run, Four-RBI Performance Leads Pirates Past Appalachian State

Saturday, February 18

Clinton, SC

12:15 PM

Seton Hall University

2-2

Appalachian State

2-2

Appalachian State

Seton Hall

Olivia Gilbert Hitting at the Plate vs. DePaul

Gilbert's Home Run, Four-RBI Performance Leads Pirates Past Appalachian State

2/18/2023 5:10:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Seton Hall vs. Appalachian St. Box Seton Hall vs. Presbyterian Box

Clinton, S.C. – Behind a home run and four runs batted in by Olivia Gilbert (Johnston, R.I.), the Seton Hall softball team picked up a win over Appalachian State, 8-0, in game one of day two at the Pinnacle PC Invitational. The Pirates would fall in game two to Presbyterian by a score of 5-1.

Game 1: Seton Hall 8, Appalachian State 0
How it Happened

The Pirates threatened in the bottom of the first but were unable to score. Ashly Colonnetta (Cypress, Texas) and Taylor Hill (Little Falls, N.J.) hit back-to-back singles, followed by a Shelby Smith (Friendswood, Texas) walk to load the bases. However, the threat ended after a double play and a groundout.
The Pirates did not let history repeat itself, cashing in on run-scoring chances in the third. With runners on the corners, Hill hit a sac fly to left to bring home Lauren Caye (Pittsburgh, Pa.) with the game's first run. Back-to-back RBI doubles by Smith and Gilbert brought the Seton Hall lead to 3-0, and an RBI single later in the inning by Abby Wingo (Portland, Ore.) capped a four-run frame.
Four more Pirates crossed the plate in the fourth, the first being Andrea Perez (Corona, Calif.) scoring on a double by Hill. After a walk to Smith put runners on first and second, Gilbert hit a three-run home run to left field to make it an 8-0 Pirates lead.
Kyra Kreuscher (Great River, N.Y.) came on in relief in the fifth to preserve the run rule victory.

Notes and Numbers

The Pirates have allowed just three total runs through the first four games of a season for the first time since 1999.
Seton Hall pitched a shutout in consecutive games for the first time since March 3, 2012, when they defeated New Mexico State and Illinois by final scores of 1-0.
Gilbert's home run was the second of her career, the other of which came on the final day of the 2022 season at St. John's. Her four RBI were a new career-high.
Gilbert was one of three Pirates to record multi-hit performances, joining Colonnetta and Hill. The trio went a combined 6-for-8 with six RBI.
Kreuscher made her first career appearance, striking out two in an inning of work.

Game 2: Presbyterian 5, Seton Hall 1
How it Happened

Presbyterian came out of the gates hot, scoring a three runs in the first inning to take an early lead.
An RBI single in the second and fifth innings increased the Blue Hose lead to 5-0.
The Pirates were able to crack the scoreboard in the sixth inning, with Colonnetta doubling and Hill walking to lead off the inning. After Smith struck out and Gilbert walked, Perez hit a sac fly to center to bring home Colonnetta.

News & Notes

Perez's sac fly in the sixth helped her record the first RBI of her career.
Erin Howard (Skillman, N.J.) went 1-for-2 at the plate and is hitting .429 to begin her career.
Colonnetta has hits in four of five games so far this season.

What's Next
Two more games are on deck for the Pirates on Sunday. They will take on IUPUI at 10 a.m. before facing Appalachian State at 12:15 p.m.