Stevens Softball traveled to Columbus, GA, this past weekend for a series of six games that constitute the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic. The team ended the weekend with one win and five losses, bringing their overall record to 1-7.
On Friday, February 28, the team went up against St. John Fisher College and Huntingdon College, ending the day with a 1-4 loss against St. John Fisher and a 2-10 loss against Huntingdon. Although these games ended in losses for the Ducks, there were many strong performances worth noting. In the game against St. John Fisher, senior catcher Madison Subbionado hit a two-run homer. Additionally, junior pitcher Kyra Fischer struck out three.
The next day, Saturday, March 1, the Ducks faced off with DePauw University and Gettysburg College, where they went 7-15 against DePauw and 0-8 against Gettysburg. Through the tough competition, the Ducks were able to put up strong performances, especially Fischer, who, in the game against DePauw, hit a home run that allowed herself, plus the players on bases, first-year Allison Mitloff and sophomore Emma Quattrochi, to run home and score.
On the last day of the three-day matchup, Sunday, March 2, the Ducks played against the University of Chicago and LaGrange College. Against Chicago, the team went 6-9, and against LaGrange, they put up their first win of the season with a score of 17-8. Against Chicago, many players put up strong performances to tally points, especially senior Rachael Prescott, who hit a home run in the sixth inning, and Fischer, who hit a triple earlier in the game. Against LaGrange, the Ducks fought back against a three-point deficit by the end of the fourth inning. This win marked the most runs in a game for the team since 2017, when the Ducks scored 26 runs against Augsburg University. This game was so successful for the Ducks because of strong performances from Mitloff, graduate student Jessica Guerrero, Prescott, Subbionado, and first-year Isabelle Won. Together, these players scored 16 runs across the two games.
The Ducks will play again this coming Wednesday, March 12, at the Weehawken Waterfront Park for a doubleheader against Hunter College. Shortly after, on Saturday, March 15, the team will begin MAC play with a doubleheader against Lebanon Valley College.
