OSCEOLA (Fl.) – The Delaware Valley University softball team let an early lead slip away and could not complete the late comeback as Geneva College held on for the 9-8 come-from-behind victory during the second game of the Aggies (0-2) spring break trip.
Playing on a neutral field in hot sunny Florida, DelVal got out to an early 5-0 lead after two innings.
Caitlin Stoner got things started with a bases loaded RBI single in the first inning and
Julie Burns capped off the spurt with a double to deep center field that plated
Jamie Stefani and
Maddy O'Donohue.
The Golden Tornadoes (1-3) responded with five runs in the bottom of the second and three more in the third to take a commanding 8-5 lead. April Lude and Sarah Johnson each drove in a pair of runs as Geneva collected seven hits in the two frames.
Each team scored one more and DelVal had one last chance in the top of the seventh trailing, 9-6.
Stefani started the inning with an infield single and Burns advanced her to second with a base knock of her own. Stoner came up next and delivered a single to the gap in left center that drove in Stefani and put runners at the corners with no outs.
Kayla Keller came up next and brought home Burns with a putout to the third baseman.
The Aggies still trailed by one with just one out and the tying run just 60 feet away. The next batter,
Faith Sleva grounded out to the pitcher and
Olivia Monismith followed with a hard hit ball that was snared out of the air by the pitcher for the final out.
Burns finished 4-for-5 at the plate with two runs batted in and a run scored. Stoner was 3-for-5 with two RBIs and Sleva finished the game 2-for-4 with a run scored. O'Donohue was 2-for-2 at the dish and came around to score twice before leaving the game early. Stefani went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI.
Julie Burns pitched three innings and suffered the loss after allowing eight runs (five earned) on seven hits and three walks with two punch outs.
Olivia Monismith made her first collegiate appearance in the circle and went for three innings allowing three hits and one run with three strikeouts. The Aggies left 14 runners on base.
Johnson led the Golden Tornadoes with a 3-for-3 effort at the plate, four RBIs, and two runs scored. Madison Schultz and Kyleigh Jo Ward each picked up two hits while Schultz and Lude drove in two runs apiece. Ward earned the win on the mound with six innings of work, 11 hits surrendered, five walks allowed, and six runs against (five earned). Vanessa Templeton pitched the final inning and earned the save.
DelVal will be back in action on Wednesday as the spring games continue with a 3:45 p.m. matchup against Carroll University and a 6 p.m. tilt against SUNY Potsdam.
