First Inning Rally Gives Drexel Softball 8-3 Victory Over Blue Hens
May 1, 2011
File Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell (Lara Andrews) and Chris Permar (Anne Marie Pagano)
• Boxscore
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. –Drexel scored seven runs during the bottom of the first inning as the Dragons avoided a weekend series sweep by posting an 8-3 victory over the University of Delaware in Colonial Athletic Association softball action Sunday afternoon at Drexel Field.
Despite the loss Delaware, which dropped to 20-30 overall and 9-9 in conference play, still moved closer to clinching a spot in the upcoming CAA Tournament due to Towson’s victory over James Madison on Sunday. The Blue Hens need just one win over Towson next weekend or a loss by the Dukes in their final series against Drexel to secure a spot in the four-team conference tournament, which will be held on May 11-13.
Drexel, which improved to 14-26 overall and 6-12 in the CAA, put the game away early with its seven-run explosion in the bottom of the first. Hannah Parish led off by reaching on an error by Blue Hen third baseman Michelle Grap, and following a sacrifice bunt by Laura Stagliano, walks to Rachel Campbell and Hillary Allen loaded the bases. Paige Collings then singled to centerfield to drive home a pair of runs, and after an RBI double by Kelley Downes made it 3-0, Amanda Stacevicz replaced Kathleen Conway in the circle for Delaware.
However Katy Harrington greeted Stacevicz with a two-run single, while Jenn Reading following with a two-run homer to center to put the Dragons ahead by seven runs. Drexel added another run in the second when Allen led off with a double to center, moved to third on a single by Downes, and scored on a two-out single to center by Reading.
Delaware, which had its six-game winning streak snapped, rallied during the top of the third when Jenny Richards singled to center with one out and Michelle McKinnon was hit by a pitch. Lara Andrews (at right) then stroked a single to right, chasing home both runners to put the Blue Hens on the board. Stacevicz then bounced into a fielder’s choice for the second out of the inning, but she came around to score when Gina Knutson drilled a double to rightcenter to make it an 8-3 game.
Delaware looked to move closer in the fourth when a walk to Grap and a single by Richards put runners on the corners with two out, but Allen struck out McKinnon swinging to escape the jam. Singles by McKinnon and Andrews put two Blue Hen runners on base with one out in the seventh, but Stacevicz lined into a double play to end the game.
Allen went the distance in the circle for Drexel, improving to 10-10 after allowing three runs on seven hits. Conway, who fired a three-hit shutout during Saturday’s nightcap victory over the Dragons, was touched up for five runs, four earned, on two hits in a third of an inning while dropping to 5-9 on the year. Stacevicz was charged with three earned runs on six hits in one inning of work, before Anne Marie Pagano (at left) tossed 4.2 frames of scoreless relief.
Andrews and Richards each finished with a pair of hits for Delaware, while Knutson’s RBI double in the third extended her hitting streak to eight consecutive games.
The contest was the final road game of the season for the Blue Hens, who return home on Wednesday to host Saint Peter’s in a 3 p.m. doubleheader at the Delaware Softball Stadium.
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