Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
CLERMONT, Fla. - The University of Scranton softball team put together a pair of solid performances on the morning at Hancock Park on Wednesday, as the Royals beat Wellesley, 4-2, then Colby, 6-1.
With the victories, the Royals evened their record on the year to 4-4 overall.
Scranton 4, Wellesley 2 (Box Score)
In their first game of the morning, Scranton rode a four-run explosion in the bottom of the first inning and the arm of senior pitcher Jamie Hampsey (Tunkhannock, Pa./Tunkhannock) to their third win of the Spring Break trip by two runs.
In the first, junior's Christine Kiefer (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) and Shannon Stricker (Morrisville, Pa./Conwell Egan) kicked the inning off with a pair of singles to put runners on first and second with one away.
Next up was junior Jacqueline DeSarro (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic), who reached base on an error. The mistake proved costly for Wellesley, as both Kiefer and Stricker scored on the play, giving Scranton the early 2-0 lead.
After a single by junior Kaitlin O'Sullivan (Bensalem, Pa./Nazareth Academy) advanced DeSarro to third, junior Katherine Kunak (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe Woodbury) cleared the bases with one swing, smacking a two-RBI double that gave Scranton the early 4-0 edge over Wellesley.
The two-RBI double by Kunak proved to eventually be the game-winning hit for the Royals, as Hampsey rolled through the Wellesley line-up, allowing just four hits in the first five innings without giving up a run.
In the sixth, Wellesley got on the board with a solo home run, making it a 4-1 game entering the seventh inning. There, Wellesley tried to rally, scoring a run with two outs to cut the Scranton lead to two and in the process put the tying run up to bat with a runner on first.
But, Hampsey forced a pop out to end the contest, giving Scranton the two-run win.
Overall, O'Sullivan and Kiefer each had two hits on the morning for the Royals, with O'Sullivan going 2-for-2 with a run scored and a walk, while Kiefer went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Hampsey (1-2) earned her first win of the young season in the circle in the contest, tossing a complete game, scattering seven hits over seven innings, while striking out six.
Scranton 6, Colby 1 (Box Score)
The Royals rode a similar theme in the second game of the morning, as a few big innings at the plate, along with a great game in the circle by sophomore pitcher Morgan Rentzheimer (Laurys Station, Pa./Parkland) proved to be a winning formula for Scranton in the five-run victory.
In the top of the first, Scranton got on the board fast. After Kiefer led the game off with a double, she was brought home on an RBI single by freshman Molly Hampsey (Tunkhannock, Pa/Tunkhannock), giving the Royals the early 1-0 edge.
With Hampsey on second base, O'Sullivan was able to bring her home on an RBI single of her own with two outs, giving Scranton a 2-0 lead right off the bat. Colby, however, did answer with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame, making it a 2-1 game after an inning of play.
Scranton attacked back in the top of the third, plating three runs to extend the lead out to 5-1. DeSarro and O'Sullivan both had RBI singles in the frame, while junior Angelica Titor (Bellerose Village, N.Y./Floral Park Memorial) forced a walk with the bases loaded to collect herself an RBI. In all, Scranton added three runs in the inning with two outs, as well.
The final run of the game for Scranton came in the top of the fifth, as Kunak knocked home O'Sullivan on an RBI ground to give Scranton a five-run lead.
This was more than enough for Rentzheimer to work with over the final three innings, as she shut down Colby after giving up a run in the first.
Overall, Rentzheimer scattered four hits in the complete game victory that upped her record on the year to 3-1, striking out seven batters, while surrendering just one walk.
At the plate, O'Sullivan led the way going a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Kiefer was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Scranton finishes off their Spring Break trip on Thursday afternoon, taking on Buffalo State at 1 p.m., then Oberlin at 3 p.m. in Clermont.
--ROYALS--
