Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
Box (Scranton-FDU-Florham)
Box (Scranton-Calvin)
CLERMONT, Fla.—The University of Scranton softball team won a pair of games in dramatic fashion today.
In the opener, the Royals held off a rally in the top of the seventh inning to defeat FDU-Florham, 5-4. Then they overcame a 5-0 deficit after three innings to pull out a 9-5 victory over Calvin College (Mich.) in the nightcap. With the wins, Scranton is now 4-2 on the season.
Sophomore shortstop Shannon Stricker (Morrisville, Pa./Conwell Egan) continued her hot-hitting today, belting out four more hits—two in each game—to extend her hitting streak to 13 games dating back to last year. She belted a double and drove in two runs and senior Gabrielle Santarelli (Peckville, Pa./Valley) had two hits and scored twice in the victory over FDU-Florham.
The Royals also received an RBI double from sophomore Jacqueline DeSarro (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) and RBI singles from senior Stephanie Romano (Oak Ridge, NJ/West Milford) and sophomore Christine Kiefer (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh).
Junior pitcher Jamie Hampsey (Tunkhannock, Pa./Tunkhannock Area) went 6 and 1/3 innings, struck out one batter, allowed only one walk, and scattered seven hits to improve to 2-0 on the year. After giving up a two-run double with two outs in the top of the seventh, freshman Morgan Rentzheimer (Laurys Station, Pa./Parkland) got the final out to earn the first save of her career.
Rentzheimer picked up the win in the second game, striking out four and allowing only two earned runs while improving to 2-1 on the year.
Trailing 5-0, Scranton battled back with a four-run rally in the fourth that included a two-run single by freshman Kaitlyn Pittsman (Jefferson Township, Pa./North Pocono) and an RBI single by Kiefer. The Royals then scored two unearned run in the top of the sixth and added three more in the seventh on a two-run single by freshman Kaitlyn Brogan (Oreland, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) and an RBI double by Santarelli.
DeSarro, who currently leads the Royals in hitting with a .529 average, belted her second double of the season in the sixth inning.
Scranton will end its 8-game Spring Break trip tomorrow afternoon against Fredonia St. (NY) at 1 p.m. and D’Youville (NY) at 3 p.m.
--ROYALS--
