On Friday, March 29, the Stevens Softball team competed in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom doubleheader against Delaware Valley, resulting in an 8-5 victory and a 2-3 loss. Third-year student Rachael Prescott led the Ducks with four RBIs and four hits with two runs across the two games. These games bring the Ducks’ record to 11-9 overall and 3-3 in the MAC Freedom conference.
Sophomore pitcher Kyra Fischer helped earn the victory in the first game, pitching almost six innings, striking out six batters, and giving up 13 hits and eight runs. To start off the game, senior Jessica Guerrero and graduate student Elise Fauske each walked. Prescott then reached on a fielder’s choice and reached second on the throw, while Fauske made her way to third. Junior Madison Subbiondo then tripled to bring both runs home as the Ducks took an early 2-0 lead.
However, to answer this lead, the Aggies scored three runs in the bottom of the first to bring the score to 2-3. To start the third inning, first-year Emma Quattrochi walked and then stole second. Guerrero was walked, and Fauske hit a single to load the bases. Prescott was walked as well, while a run was scored to tie the game 3-3.
In the bottom of the fourth, Delaware Valley scored two more runs as the score jumped to 5-3, giving them the lead. To answer this deficit in the seventh inning, Quattrochi hit a single, followed by a double from Guerrero. First-year Maria Dante followed with a pinch-hit, delivering an RBI double to score Quattrochi. Prescott hit a single and advanced to second, scoring both runners and allowing the Ducks to take a 6-5 lead. The Ducks finished out the inning, scoring five runs total, and secured a win in game one.
In game two, sophomore pitcher Ella Tozduman started the game, impressively allowing zero runs and giving up just six hits. Fischer followed, pitching the final three innings, allowing two runs and five hits.
In the first inning, Stevens jumped out to a 1-0 lead as Fauske scored on a wild pitch. Both teams were unable to score throughout the game, as pitchers on both teams had a spectacular game. With the score remaining 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh, the Aggies scored one run, tying the game and forcing extra innings. Although Stevens had runners on second and third in the eighth inning, they were unfortunately unable to score any runs. In the 10th innings, the Ducks found another run thanks to an RBI from Prescott, allowing Fauske to score and bringing the score to 2-1. However, the Aggies quickly answered and scored two runs in the bottom of the tenth to secure their 3-2 victory in game two.
The Ducks are now 3-1 in their last four conference games. Stevens is also now 9-1 all-time against the Aggies. The team returns to host Manhattanville College in a doubleheader on Saturday, March 30 for their Strikeout Cancer Game.
