Smith K's 12 in Shutout Victory over North Dakota

Friday, March 3

Lubbock, Texas

1:30 PM

Seton Hall University

5-5

North Dakota

1-16

Seton Hall

North Dakota

3/3/2023 9:27:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Game 2 Box

Lubbock, Texas – Shelby Smith (Friendswood, Texas) was dominant in the circle on Friday afternoon, matching her career-high with 12 strikeouts and adding two hits and an RBI at the plate in Seton Hall's 8-0 win over North Dakota at the Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic. The Pirates would split their doubleheader to open the weekend, falling to Texas Tech in game two by a final score of 5-3.

Game 1: Seton Hall 8, North Dakota 0
How it Happened

The came out of the gates red hot, scoring in each of the first two innings to grab the early lead. After the Fighting Hawks set down the first two Pirate hitters of the inning, Kelsey Carr (Ridgewood, N.Y.) doubled to get into scoring position with two outs. Next, Smith singled up the middle to bring home Carr with the game's first run.
In the second, Ashly Colonnetta (Cypress, Texas) stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. Colonnetta slapped a single to left field, bringing home a pair of runs to push Seton Hall's lead to 3-0.
The Pirates' three-run lead held to form until the sixth when they would tack on some insurance. After back-to-back walks to start the frame, Erin Howard (Skillman, N.J.) laced a double into the gap in right-center field which allowed Abby Wingo (Portland, Ore.) to score. Later in the inning, Taylor Hill (Little Falls, N.J.) continued her great start to the season with an RBI triple to bring Howard home.
In the seventh, consecutive hits from Wingo and Jordan Tressler (Rocklin, Calif.) increased the Pirates' lead up to 7-0. After Howard walked to put runners at first and second, Colonnetta singled up the middle to bring home Lauren Caye (Pittsburgh, Pa.) with the eighth Pirate run.
Smith was dynamite in the circle all day, allowing just two hits and matching her career-high with 12 strikeouts. Only two baserunners reached as far second base against Smith on the afternoon.

Notes and Numbers

Smith's 12 strikeouts match her career high which was set on April 2, 2021 at Creighton.
All five of Seton Hall's victories this season have been shutouts. The Pirates are outscoring opponents 39-0 in wins so far this season.
Colonnetta's three-RBI game is her first such game of her career.
Seven of Seton Hall's nine batters recorded at least one base hit, and eight of the nine reached base safely.
Colonnetta, Smith, Wingo and Howard each had multi-hit performances, going a combined 8-for-14 with six RBI at the dish.

Game 2: Texas Tech 5, Seton Hall 3
How it Happened

Seton Hall had a chance to strike early after both Colonnetta and Hill reached base to start the game, however the Red Raiders were able to work out of the jam.
Texas Tech took the lead in the bottom of the second thanks to a pair of two-run homers from Peyton Blythe and Kennedy Crites.
Hill would play long ball herself in the top of the third, putting the Pirates on the board with a solo shot to right field.
After Texas Tech added another run in the fourth, Seton Hall tried to chip away in the bottom of the fifth. Carr would hit a sacrifice fly to left which brought home Colonnetta to make it a 5-2 game.
In the sixth, the Pirates would add another on an RBI groundout by Howard.
The Pirates would bring the tying run to the plate in the top of the seventh but were unable to bring anything across.

News & Notes

Hill's home run was her third of the season so far in her 11^th game of 2023. Last year, Hill did not hit her third home run of the year until her 28^th game.
Both Hill and Lela Allen (Phoenix, Ariz.) had three-hit performances. This was Hill's seventh such game of her career while Allen recorded her first three-hit game.
Of Carr's five pitching appearances this season, tonight marks just the second in which she has allowed the opposition to score against her.
Carr went 1-for-3 at the plate and has now hit safely in each of her last five games.

What's Next
The Pirates will face both North Dakota and Texas Tech again on Saturday, starting with the matchup with the Fighting Hawks at 1:30 p.m. before the rematch against the Red Raiders at 6:30 p.m. The game against Texas Tech will be streamed live on ESPN+.