MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Despite 10 hits in the game, the Delaware Valley softball team struggled to bat in a run dropping their opening contest on Sunday 4-0 to Penn State Harrisburg. The Aggies then turned around and recorded a come-from-behind victory in the seventh inning to defeat Bridgewater State, 4-3.
Game 1 | Penn State Harrisburg 4 – Delaware Valley 0
The Aggies threatened early in the first inning.
Kenzie Boyd started the rally with a single through the left side before a fielder's choice error allowed Angelina Bresnan to reach and move Boyd into scoring position.
Tori Bockrath followed with a single to short to load the bases, but the Lions escaped the jam with a groundout, stranding three Aggies.
Madison Karns responded in the circle by retiring the Lions in order in the bottom half of the inning.
Penn State broke through in the second. After Karns recorded two strikeouts, an error kept the inning alive and allowed the Lions to put runners on the corners. A single to center brought home two runs to give Penn State a 2-0 advantage. With the bases loaded later in the inning,
Jillian Ulozas ended the threat with an unassisted out at third.
DelVal again threatened in the fourth. Bockrath reached on an error and
Amelia Funston followed with a single up the middle, with
Sienna Cali entering to run.
Laila Murray later singled to load the bases, but a pop-up and a flyout ended the inning with the Aggies leaving three more runners stranded.
The Lions added to their lead in the fifth when Aspen Walker singled up the middle and Emily Cutman drove her in with a double, making it 3-0.
Penn State plated its final run in the sixth with a triple and a double to open the frame.
Tessa Fredericks entered in relief for the Aggies and quickly settled in. With runners on second and third, a wild pitch was blocked by catcher Amela Funston, who recorded the out at home plate on the play. Fredericks followed with a strikeout to end the inning.
Game 2 | Delaware Valley 4 – Bridgewater State 3
After a scoreless first inning, the Bears struck in the second. Victoria Becker singled and used her speed to steal two bases and reach third. Lily Gagnon was then hit by a pitch and stole second before an error at second base allowed both runners to score, giving Bridgewater State a 2-0 lead. The Aggies limited the damage with a strikeout and a pop up to end the inning.
The Bears added another run in the fourth. An error in left field and a fielder's choice put runners on the corners before another miscue allowed Becker to cross the plate and extend the lead to 3-0. Despite the bases being loaded,
Tori Bockrath hauled in a pop up to end the inning and strand three runners.
DelVal began its comeback in the fifth. Bockrath singled and moved to second on a groundout by
Samantha Ratti before
Tessa Fredericks drove her home with a single through the left side to cut the deficit to 3-1.
The Aggies continued to apply pressure in the sixth.
Jillian Collins and
Kenzie Boyd opened the inning with back-to-back singles before Angelina Bresnan drew a walk to load the bases.
Madison Donnelly lifted a sacrifice fly to left to bring home Collins and move the runners up. Bockrath then grounded out to first, but Boyd raced home on the play to tie the game at 3-3.
Fredericks entered the circle in the seventh in relief of
Morgan Mecham and held the Bears without a hit to keep the game tied heading into the bottom half.
DelVal quickly capitalized. Fredericks led off with a single through the left side and Murray followed with another single to move her into scoring position. Collins then drew a walk to load the bases for Boyd, who delivered the game-winning single up the middle to score Fredericks and seal the 4-3 victory.
Mecham tossed six innings for the Aggies, allowing two hits and three runs while earning her first win as an Aggie.
DelVal returns to action on Tuesday, Mar. 10 facing Albion College at 1 p.m. followed by Valley Forge at 3 p.m.
