Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
Box (game 1)
Box (game 2)
Photo gallery (courtesy of Dan Ceccacci)
JESSUP, Pa.—The University of Scranton softball team will enter tomorrow’s key Landmark Conference doubleheader on a positive note, especially after sweeping a doubleheader from Hunter College this evening at the Jessup Youth Sports Complex.
In the midst of a three-game winning streak, the Royals are hoping a sweep of Drew University Saturday is enough to vault them into next weekend’s Landmark Conference postseason tournament that will be held at either Moravian College or Susquehanna University. Scranton is battling Catholic University for the final playoff spot.
The Royals, now 15-13 overall, overcame an early deficit to pull off a 12-6 victory in the first game. In the nightcap, Scranton hit two home runs in the first inning—a solo shot by sophomore Christine Kiefer (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) and a two-run blast by sophomore Jacqueline DeSarro (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic)—to jump out to a 5-0 lead on its way to a 10-5 win.
Sophomore pitcher Emily Simon (Freehold, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) came on in relief in the first game and steadied the ship after Scranton fell behind 6-2 early. Over the final five innings, she scattered five hits and did not allow a run to pick up her first win of the season. Fellow sophomore Shannon Stricker (Morrisville, Pa./Conwell Egan) provided much of the offense, finishing with three hits, including a double, while driving in four runs.
The Royals took the lead for good with a 7-run rally in the fourth inning, which included a two-run double by DeSarro and run-scoring doubles from sophomore Angelica Titor (Bellerose Village, NY/Floral Park Memorial) and freshman Shanna Schaeffer (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay). DeSarro, senior Stephanie Romano (Oak Ridge, NJ/West Milford), and freshman Kaitlyn Brogan (Oreland, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) finished with two hits apiece for Scranton.
Senior Briana Kresback (New Hyde Park, NY/New Hyde Park Memorial) hit a grand slam and sophomores Taylor Crofts (East Yaphank, NY/Longwood) and Aleta Terrill (Baltimore, Md./Mercy) had two hits apiece for the Hawks.
In the nightcap, freshman pitcher Morgan Rentzheimer (Laurys Station, Pa./Parkland) improved to 9-6 on the season by striking out five and allowing only two earned runs in picking up the complete game victory. Her nine wins are the most by a Royal hurler since teammate Jamie Hampsey (Tunkhannock, Pa./Tunkhannock) won nine games during the 2013 campaign.
Hunter did manage to slice Scranton’s lead down to two with a three-run rally in the fifth before Scranton answered with a four-run rally in the bottom half of the frame that included a pinch-hit two-run home run by Hampsey, the first of her career. Sophomore Kaitlin O’Sullivan (Bensalem, Pa./Nazareth Academy) belted a pair of doubles and Romano had two hits and scored twice for Scranton, which took advantage of five errors to score six unearned runs.
Junior Christine Kline (Park Ridge, NJ/Midland Park) had two hits, including a double, and drove in three runs and senior Meghan O’Shea (Deer Park, NY/High School East) finished with two hits for Hunter, which fell to 16-6 on the season.
Kiefer, who is now tied with DeSarro for the team-lead in home runs with four, has also hit safely in each of her last eight games and leads the Royals with a .342 batting average. Stricker is next at .340, followed by DeSarro at .333.
--ROYALS--
