Seton Hall University
4-8
Cornell
3-5
Three Pirates Knock Home Runs as Pirates Split Games on Second Day of Party at Palmer Invitational
3/1/2025 5:17:00 PM | Softball
Game One vs Cornell
In her third start of the season, Kyra Kreuscher was on fire in the early stages of this game. Through the first two innings, Kreuscher allowed only two of the first nine Big Red batters to reach base through 2.1 innings. Cornell struck first in the third, however, after a lead-off single and some small ball tactics led to that runner scoring before the innings end.
E3 | Gilbert gets hit by a pitch and we even things up!
— Seton Hall Softball (@SHUSoftball) March 1, 2025
Seton Hall 1, Cornell 1#HALLin🔵⚪ | #HooksUp
The Pirates did not face a 1-0 deficit for long, however. Two early singles and an error loaded the bases for first baseman Olivia Gilbert. Gilbert broke the tie, but not in the expected way. Cornell hit Gilbert with the first pitch of the at-bat, walking in a Caroline Hobbes and drawing the game even at 1-1.
With the game tied, Kreuscher cruised through the next three innings. During that stretch, she faced only nine batters, forced inning-endings double plays and struck out two. The Pirates had a chance to steal the lead during that span after Hobbes attempted to steal home on a wild pitch, but she was caught and that ended the inning.
With both teams looking to avoid extra innings, Cornell got the first chance to break the tie. A lead-off walk forced Kelsey Carr onto the mound as the Pirates hoped to end the game in the bottom half of the inning. While Carr immediately got two outs, the runner on first slowly made their way to third base with two outs. However, in an unlucky moment, a passed ball on a swinging strike three led to the runner on third scoring to put the Pirates down 2-1. The Big Red immediately followed that up with a RBI double before the inning ended. In search of at-minimum extra innings, Seton Hall headed to the bottom of the seventh down 3-1.
OH MY, KELSEY CARR WALK-OFF HOMER 💣
— Seton Hall Softball (@SHUSoftball) March 1, 2025
PIRATES WIN 4-3! 🏴☠️🏴☠️#HALLin🔵⚪ | #HooksUp pic.twitter.com/BWHMAqByG9
With the game on the lines, Hobbes started the inning with a single on a 2-2 count. Katey Brennan immediately drew a five-pitch walk to put two runners on with no outs. With the pressure ratcheted up, Taylor Hill grounded out to first, advancing the two runners into scoring position with only one out. Carr stepped to the plate; she had a chance to right the misfortune that befell her on the mound. On the first pitch, she corrected everything. The two-way star demolished the pitch over the center field wall to give the Pirates a 4-3 win over Cornell.
Game Two vs Virginia
Look at that ball fly🥎💨
— Seton Hall Softball (@SHUSoftball) March 1, 2025
Gilbert mashes a two-run home run and we're up 3-0 in the first!#HALLin🔵⚪ | #HooksUp pic.twitter.com/MVlqMabiOa
The Pirates jumped out front early against the No. 25 team in the country. Hill opened the game with a walk, while Carr reached base safely on an error the next at-bat. Hill scored during the next at-bat after a Caviler wild pitch allowed her to slide home to put The Hall up 1-0. With two outs and Carr still on base, facing a 2-0 count, Gilbert drove a home run over the centerfield wall to put the Pirates up 3-0 in the top half of the first. A lead-off home run in the bottom half of the inning made it a 3-1 Pirates lead, but Seton Hall's lead held steady at 3-1 through the first two innings.
After 679 days and an missed 2024 season due to injury, Hannah Alexander hits her fourth-career home run!🎊#HALLin🔵⚪ | #HooksUp pic.twitter.com/4Bu3ej71Dh
— Seton Hall Softball (@SHUSoftball) March 1, 2025
In the third inning, Virginia overwhelmed the Pirates offense. The Cavilers offense scored 13 runs on 16 at bats, forcing the Pirates to use three pitchers to get out of the inning. The Pirates reduced the deficit thanks to a two-run home run by Hannah Alexander, her first in nearly 700 days after missing last season due to injury. However, the deficit was too large for the Pirates to close and they fell to Virginia 18-5.
News & Notes
- Gilbert recorded her 20th career home run.
- Hobbes recorded her fourth and fifth runs of the season.
- With one run scored today, Hill moved into second place in career runs scored at The Hall with 132 career runs.
- Carr recorded her fourth win and HR of the season.
- Perez's on-base streak ended at 11 games.
- With two RBI today, Alexander surpassed 35 career RBI.
What's Next
The Pirates will close out their weekend at the Party at Palmer Invitational on Saturday, March 1, for when they face Cornell at 11 a.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ava Hodges (3-1)
L: Dupuis, Karissa (0-2)
Batting:
HR: Alexander, Hannah 1 ; Gilbert, Olivia 1
RBI: Alexander, Hannah 2 ; Gilbert, Olivia 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Hill, Taylor 1 ; Carr, Kelsey 1 ; Martinez, Naya 1 ; Alexander, Hannah 1 ; Gilbert, Olivia 1
Batting:
2B: Kelly Ayer 2 ; Bella Cabral 1 ; Reece Holbrook 1
3B: Jade Hylton 1
HR: Jade Hylton 1 ; Macee Eaton 1
RBI: Jade Hylton 4 ; Kelly Ayer 1 ; Bella Cabral 1 ; Macee Eaton 5 ; M.C. Eaton 1 ; Sarah Coon 2 ; Sydney Hartgrove 1 ; Reece Holbrook 1 ; Alex Call 1
SF: Sarah Coon 1 ; Sydney Hartgrove 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jade Hylton 2 ; Brie Biddle 1 ; Kelly Ayer 2 ; Kassidy Hudson 1 ; Bella Cabral 2 ; Addison Thompson 1 ; Macee Eaton 2 ; Madison Greene 1 ; Kelsey Hackett 2 ; Sarah Coon 1 ; Sydney Hartgrove 1 ; Reece Holbrook 1 ; Kailyn Jones 1
SB: Kelsey Hackett 1
HBP: Addison Thompson 1
