Jacqueline DeSarro

CLERMONT, Fla. - Senior Jacqueline DeSarro (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) hit an eventual game-winning three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning, lifting the University of Scranton softball team to a 9-6 victory over Oswego State on Sunday at Hancock Park in Clermont, Florida.

The Royals played earlier in the day on Sunday against Rutgers-Newark, and fell in a slugfest, 16-6. With the split of the two games, Scranton is now 1-3 on the young season

Scranton 9, Oswego State 6 | Box Score

After falling to Rutgers-Newark, Scranton picked themselves up off the mat in the Oswego game, opening up a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Senior Shannon Stricker (Morrisville, Pa./Conwell Egan) belted a two-RBI single in the frame, while DeSarro added her first RBI of the game on an RBI sacrifice fly. The game started off for Scranton with a lead-off triple by freshman Megan Zinn (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan), as well.

After Oswego got on the board with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third, Scranton extended their lead out to 5-2 in the top of the fourth., as DeSarro had another RBI on a single (scoring junior Morgan Rentzheimer (Laurys Station, Pa./Parkland)), while senior Kaitlin O'Sullivan (Bensalem, Pa./Nazareth Academy) scored later in the frame on an Oswego throwing error.

In the fifth, freshman Casey DeSarno (Wall Township, N.J./Wall) notched her first RBI, as a double knocked home sophomore Molly Hampsey (Tunkhannock, Pa./Tunkhannock) with one out to make it a 6-2 game.

But, in the bottom of the sixth, Oswego attacked back, scoring four runs to tie the game at 6-all entering the seventh inning. This set the stage for DeSarro to win the game in the top of the seventh for Scranton.

In the frame, both Zinn and Stricker had singles, and with one away, DeSarro smacked the ninth home run of her career over the center field fence, giving Scranton the lead back at 9-6.

But, in the bottom of the seventh, Oswego made things interesting, loading the bases with one out and sending the game-winning run to the plate twice. However, Rentzheimer (who came in relief in the fifth inning) wiggled her way out of the jam, forcing back-to-back pop-ups to give Scranton their first win of the year.

Overall, DeSarro led the offense in the win, going 2-for-4 with five RBI, while Stricker also went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Zinn finished with 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Hampsey and Stricker scored two runs, apiece, as well.

In the circle, Rentzheimer (1-2) earned her first win of the year in relief, as she did not allow a run in one and two-thirds of an inning of work.

Rutgers-Newark 16, Scranton 6 | Box Score

In the first game of the afternoon for Scranton, Rutgers-Newark opened a 9-3 lead on the Royals in the top of the fifth inning and never looked back, eventually winning the game by 10 runs over Scranton.

Overall in the defeat, Rentzheimer went 1-for-2 with two RBI, while DeSarro went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI. Senior Angelica Titor (Bellerose Village, N.Y./Floral Park Memorial) also went 3-for-4 with an RBI in the defeat, as well.

The University of Scranton softball team returns to action on Monday, playing two more games to continue their Spring Break trip in Florida. The Royals will first take on Gordon at 3:30 p.m., and then face-off with RIT at 8:30 p.m.

--ROYALS--