CLERMONT (FL) –
Jamie Stefani pitched two gems and the Delaware Valley University softball team's offense came alive for a combined 17 hits to sweep a pair of games on the third day of its spring break trip in Clermont, Florida. The Aggies defeated University of Minnesota – Morris 8-4 in the first game and downed Ripon College 6-0 in the second.
In the early morning game, DelVal (3-2) loaded the bases in the first inning and
Caitlin Stoner drove in a run for the early 1-0 lead.
The Cougars (2-9) answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 2-1 lead as Michelle O'Rourke picked up a pair of RBI's.
The Aggie defense kept Minnesota – Morris grounded the rest of the way and the offense exploded for seven runs on nine hits in the fourth and fifth innings combined.
Jamie Stefani had three RBI's and scored twice while Stoner,
Gina Formisano,
Kayla Keller and
Maddy O'Donohue each drove in a run to lead the team to an 8-2 lead after five innings.
The Cougars got a pair of runs back in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Stefani closed the game with a 1-2-3 seventh inning to secure the 8-4 victory. She finished the game with nine strikeouts and two walks while giving up two earned runs. At the dish, Stefani went 3-for-3 with a walk, three RBI's and two runs scored.
Seven other Aggies had base knocks in the game including Ellick who came around to score twice and Stoner who finished with a pair of RBI's.
In game two the bats stayed hot as DelVal (4-2) got six runs on five hits and held a commanding 6-0 lead after two innings. In the first,
Morgan Hawk drove in two runs with a single to left field and two batters later Ellick drove a ball over the left fielder's head for a two-RBI double. Then in the second, Stefani drove in two more runs as O'Donohue and Nina Dudley scored to make it a 6-0 game.
For Stefani, that is all she needed as she gave up just six hits the rest of the way to earn the first shutout of the year and the 6-0 final. She finished with four strikeouts upping her total to 24 over the last three games. At the plate she led the team with two hits and two RBI's while Hawk added a run scored to go with her pair of runs batted in.
DelVal will wrap up its spring break trip with a pair of games tomorrow as it takes on Lake Forest College at 9 a.m. and Lancaster Bible College at 1 p.m. Both games will be played at the Sleepy Hollow Fields in Leesburg, Fl.