photo courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

GREENVILLE, N.C. - Towson centerfielder Erika Stasch scored on a wild pitch by Blue Hen sophomore Amanda Stacevicz in the top of the seventh inning as the Tigers posted a 2-1 victory over Delaware Sunday at the East Carolina Pirate Classic.

With the teams knotted at 1-1 in the seventh, Stasch worked a one-out walk off Blue Hen starting pitcher Bertie Lake. Stasch then moved to second when Andrea Stevenson grounded out to Lake, and she advanced to third on a passed ball. After a walk to Kim Lempa put runners on the corners Stacevicz replaced Lake in the circle, but while facing the Tigers’ Sammi DiPompo, Stacevicz threw a wild pitch allowing Stasch to score the winning run.

Towson relief pitcher Dominique Ortega then retired the Blue Hens in order in the bottom of the seventh to close out the victory for the Tigers.

Towson, which was picked to win the Colonial Athletic Association in the Preseason Coaches Poll, improved to 3-3 on the season. Delaware fell to 2-6 on the year.

The Blue Hens jumped in front during the bottom of the second inning, when Michelle Grap (at right) led off by drilling a solo homer to centerfield. The longball was the 11th of Grap’s career, putting her in sole possession of second place on the UD career home runs list, and snapped an 0-for-17 skid for the Blue Hens’ junior infielder.

The Tigers answered right back in the top of the third, as Stasch led off with an infield single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Stevenson. Lake then got Lempa to fly out to rightfield, but another infield single by DiPompo put runners on the corners. Stasch then crossed the plate on a throwing error by Blue Hen catcher Gina Knutson, tying the game at 1-1.

Delaware had a chance to regain the lead in the bottom of the fourth, when Emily Wilcox drew a one-out walk. Rachel Jones then laced a double to centerfield, but Wilcox was thrown out at the plate as the contest remained tied.

Ortega improved to 1-1 for the Tigers after she allowed two hits and struck out two batters in three scoreless innings of relief, while Towson starter Britney Croner gave up one earned run on five hits in four innings of work. Lake was the hard-luck loser for the Blue Hens, falling to 1-1 despite allowing just two unearned runs on five hits in 6.2 innings.

Stacevicz went 2 for 3 at the plate for Delaware, which posted seven hits to the Tigers’ five. Jenny Richards, Shanette White, Grap, Wilcox and Jones each registered a hit apiece.

The Blue Hens return to action on Friday when Delaware faces Kent State at 12 noon on the first day of the Marshall Invitational.