MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Delaware Valley softball team kicked off the season in a big way down in Myrtle Beach shutting out New Jersey City 5-0 before turning around and producing another shutout against Hilbert 8-0.
Game 1 | Delaware Valley 5 – New Jersey City 0
After a scoreless first two innings, the Aggies broke through in the bottom of the third.
Jillian Collins singled through the left side and quickly moved into scoring position with a stolen base.
Angelina Bresnen followed with a single to put two runners on before
Madison Donnelly laced a triple into the gap, driving in both and giving DelVal a 2–0 lead.
Tori Bockrath then lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score Donnelly and extend the advantage to 3–0.
In the fourth,
Madison Karns allowed two hits but worked out of the inning with a foul out, strikeout and pop up to keep NJCU off the board. Karns then helped her own cause at the plate, singling to shortstop to reach base. After advancing to second on a throwing error by the Gothic Knights' catcher, she came around to score on a failed pickoff attempt, pushing the Aggies' lead to 4–0.
Both teams recorded a hit in a quiet fifth inning before NJCU went down in order in the top of the sixth. DelVal added an insurance run in the bottom half as Collins once again sparked the offense with a single to left field and another stolen base. Bresnen moved her to third with a sacrifice fly before Donnelly delivered again, ripping her second triple of the game to bring Collins home and make it 5–0.
Karns closed the door in the seventh, retiring the side in order to secure the shutout victory for the Aggies.
Game 2 | Delaware Valley 8 – Hilbert 0
DelVal wasted no time getting on the board in the bottom of the first. Collins reached base to spark the rally, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch to put herself in scoring position.
Kenzie Boyd followed by reaching on an error and stealing second. With two runners on, Bresnen stepped to the plate and drilled a triple, bringing home both Collins and Boyd. Bresnen later scored on an error to give the Aggies an early 3–0 lead.
The Aggies kept the momentum going. Bockrath reached on an error before
Amelia Funston doubled to drive her in and extend the lead to 4–0.
Tessa Fredericks then ripped a triple to left field to score Funston, pushing the advantage to 5–0.
Laila Murray capped the six-run inning with a single to center field that brought Fredericks home and gave DelVal a commanding 6–0 edge.
After a quiet second inning, the Aggies added to their lead in the third. Fredericks and Murray opened the frame with singles to put runners on first and second.
Haley Kley grounded out to second base, moving both runners into scoring position. A catcher's error followed by a wild pitch allowed both runners to score, extending the DelVal lead to 8–0.
In the circle, Fredericks controlled the game from there, allowing just two hits the rest of the way to secure her first collegiate victory.
The Aggies are back in action tomorrow, March 8 in Myrtle Beach taking on Penn State Harrisburg at 10 a.m. followed by Bridgewater State at noon.
