STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (March 5, 2022) – Senior Meg Halloran went 2 for 3 with a stolen base in the second game of a Saturday twinbill, but the Stevens Institute of Technology softball team dropped both ends of the doubleheader to New York University in non-conference action hosted by the College of Staten island at its Softball Complex
The pair of setbacks dropped the Ducks to 0-4 on the season. The wins were the first two of the year for NYU, who now stands at 2-0.
“We are in a tough spot and are not playing our best softball” head coach Emily Kaczmarek remarked. “We are not currently reaching our potential, but when we do, it’ll be dangerous.”
The Ducks were locked up in a tight 1-1 game in the fifth inning when NYU struck for two runs in the bottom half of the fifth and then held on for a 3-1 victory. Stevens tied things up in the top of the fourth as sophomore Julia Baber singled to shortstop and later came home on a sacrifice fly to right field from junior Alex Schoellig. The Ducks managed to bring the tying run to the plate twice, both in the sixth and seventh innings, courtesy of a double by junior Elise Fauske and a single by sophomore Jessica Guerrero, respectively. But the Violets were able to pitch around this trouble and secured the game one win.
Junior Erin Kreis (0-2) suffered the tough-luck loss on the mound for the Ducks going six innings, allowing all three NYU three runs on four hits. Kreis struck out four Violet hitters and only walked one. Junior Olivia Warner collected the fourth and final hit of the day for Stevens, a single to left field in the second inning.
NYU benefited from hits by Sophia Leon, Erin Scott, Madi Hand, and Caroline Hoffman, each of who collected one knock on the day. Scott and Hoffman also drove in runs for the Violets as did Lauren Kong. The Violet’s starting pitcher, Maggie Swan was outstanding, earning the win in complete-game fashion, allowing just one earned run on four hits to go along with five strikeouts.
In game two, the Violets jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning and then tacked on a single run in the third and three in the fifth to secure a 6-0 victory.
In addition to Hallaron’s multi-hit day, the Ducks saw Guerrero and sophomore Melanie Blarr each collect hits on the day. Blarr collected a second-inning single, while Guerrero’s smacked a double in the sixth. NYU’s offense came to life in game two as they plated the six runs on eight hits. Leon and Scott as well as Hannah Lee enjoyed multiple-hit days. Of the eight hits, four of them were of the extra-base variety for the Violets. Marina Egbert picked up the complete-game win going seven innings without giving up a run. She struck out five Ducks batters and walked only one.
The Ducks best chance to score came in the top of the third when Fauske and Guerrero were both plunked by Egbert, putting a pair of runners on with two outs. The rally came to an end, however, when Egbert induced a flyout to end the inning.
First-year Kaitlin Smith (0-2) picked up the loss for Stevens in the circle, allowing six runs over five innings. Two of NYU’s six runs were unearned. First-year Meghan Curtis fired a scoreless sixth inning in her collegiate debut.
Up Next: The Ducks return home to Weehawken Waterfront Park in Weehawken, N.J. to square off with Stockton University on Wednesday Mar. 8. The teams last met in 2019 with Stockton leading the all-time series 18-5.
Facebook: “Like” Stevens Athletics
Twitter: @stevensducks
Instagram: @stevensducks
#AllRise