Softball Walks Off Twice in DH Drexel Sweep
Alexis Walkden hits 17th homer, moves within one of tying SHU single-season record.
Senior Whitney Jones double to right to plate the winning run in game two.
April 21, 2015
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - It was a dramatic afternoon at Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field as the Seton Hall University softball team walked off not once, but twice, in a doubleheader sweep of Drexel University. After seeing a one-run lead disappear in the top of the seventh of game one, the Pirates rallied for three runs to win 6-5, then in game two The Hall broke a late tie to win 3-2.
Seton Hall 6, Drexel 5
Box Score
Seton Hall's first victory featured a peculiar ending, as the Dragons committed a pair of throwing errors on the game's final sequence. With the score tied 5-5, freshman Alexis Walkden (Cibolo, Texas) stood at first base as senior Sara Haefeli (Montclair, N.J.) hit a grounder to Paula Ueno at short. Ueno attempted to catch Walkden at second, but threw the ball into right, and both runners to reach safely.
The play had only just begun. Walkden broke for third and the throw from right was not in time. Haefeli alertly headed to second as the Dragons attempted to catch Walkden, leading to third baseman Sylvia llamas throwing back across the field to stop her, only once again the ball sailed into right field, allowing Walkden scored easily to end the game.
Moments earlier, it appeared as if Seton Hall would not even need the bottom of the seventh to secure a win. With one out in the sixth, junior Alex Rabbetts (Corona, Calif.) belted home run out to deep left center field, providing The Hall with a 3-2 lead.
Needing three outs to secure a complete game win, Lauren Fischer (Robbinsville, N.J.) allowed the first two Drexel batters to reach, leading Casey Moses (Lower Burrell, Pa.) to enter for a save opportunity. The first batter she faced was Llamas, who later would commit the game-ending error. She hit a three-run homer to left, and Drexel grabbed a 5-3 lead.
Needing at least two runs to force extras, Yasmin Harrell (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) started Seton Hall's seventh-inning rally with an infield single. Whitney Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) sent a shot into right center, allowing the speedy Harrell to score all the way from first, and Jones would come home and tie the game as Walkden singled to right, setting up the two-error game-ending play.
Although she did not pick up the win, Fischer was solid in 6.0 innings, allowing four runs, only three of which were earned, on eight hits with a pair of strikeouts.
Fischer and Jackie DiPietro (Horsham, Pa.) tallied SHU's other RBI base hits back in the second inning. Rabbetts finished 2-for-3, scoring twice, with Jones (2-for-4) and DiPietro (2-for-3) also collecting multiple hits.
Seton Hall 3, Drexel 2
Box Score
It was another dramatic walk off victory for The Hall, although this time it came in a more conventional fashion. Drexel had come back to tie the game in the top of the sixth, erasing a 2-0 lead the Pirates had held since the first, and neither team scored again until the final at bat.
With one away, pinch hitter Alannah Basile (Levittown, N.Y.) beat out an infield single to short, with Valerie Suto (Mercerville, N.J.) re-entering the game to run at first. Harrell stepped to the plate and shot a single to right, but once again the Pirates were aided by an errant throw.
Suto initially held up to ensure Harrell's base hit was going to drop safely, once she took off, Zamore attempted to catch her at second, only her throw was off target, bounced off of Suto, and into right field. Harrell noticed no fielder's near the loose ball, resulting in runners at second and third with no outs.
Facing an 0-2 count, Jones drilled a double into the corner in right, Suto scored easily on the play, and the Pirates completed their sweep.
Back in the first inning, Walkden moved one step closer to Seton Hall history, hitting a two-run shot over the scoreboard in left field, her BIG EAST leading 17th homer of the year, which places her one behind Laura Taylor's single-season record of 18, set back in 2002.
That margin held until the sixth, when Baeley Reed drove in two unearned runs with two outs off a single to center. Outside of that, starter Danielle DeStaso (Congers, N.Y.) faced little difficulty in posting her ninth win of the year.
She allowed no earned runs and scattered seven hits over seven-innings in a complete-game effort. She struck out three, and also went 1-for-3 at the plate.
Seton Hall will return to action this Thursday, April 23, for a single non-conference game against Stony Brook. First pitch at Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field is scheduled for 4 p.m.
http://www.shupirates.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/042115aaa.html
Alexis Walkden hits 17th homer, moves within one of tying SHU single-season record.
Senior Whitney Jones double to right to plate the winning run in game two.
April 21, 2015
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - It was a dramatic afternoon at Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field as the Seton Hall University softball team walked off not once, but twice, in a doubleheader sweep of Drexel University. After seeing a one-run lead disappear in the top of the seventh of game one, the Pirates rallied for three runs to win 6-5, then in game two The Hall broke a late tie to win 3-2.
Seton Hall 6, Drexel 5
Box Score
Seton Hall's first victory featured a peculiar ending, as the Dragons committed a pair of throwing errors on the game's final sequence. With the score tied 5-5, freshman Alexis Walkden (Cibolo, Texas) stood at first base as senior Sara Haefeli (Montclair, N.J.) hit a grounder to Paula Ueno at short. Ueno attempted to catch Walkden at second, but threw the ball into right, and both runners to reach safely.
The play had only just begun. Walkden broke for third and the throw from right was not in time. Haefeli alertly headed to second as the Dragons attempted to catch Walkden, leading to third baseman Sylvia llamas throwing back across the field to stop her, only once again the ball sailed into right field, allowing Walkden scored easily to end the game.
Moments earlier, it appeared as if Seton Hall would not even need the bottom of the seventh to secure a win. With one out in the sixth, junior Alex Rabbetts (Corona, Calif.) belted home run out to deep left center field, providing The Hall with a 3-2 lead.
Needing three outs to secure a complete game win, Lauren Fischer (Robbinsville, N.J.) allowed the first two Drexel batters to reach, leading Casey Moses (Lower Burrell, Pa.) to enter for a save opportunity. The first batter she faced was Llamas, who later would commit the game-ending error. She hit a three-run homer to left, and Drexel grabbed a 5-3 lead.
Needing at least two runs to force extras, Yasmin Harrell (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) started Seton Hall's seventh-inning rally with an infield single. Whitney Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) sent a shot into right center, allowing the speedy Harrell to score all the way from first, and Jones would come home and tie the game as Walkden singled to right, setting up the two-error game-ending play.
Although she did not pick up the win, Fischer was solid in 6.0 innings, allowing four runs, only three of which were earned, on eight hits with a pair of strikeouts.
Fischer and Jackie DiPietro (Horsham, Pa.) tallied SHU's other RBI base hits back in the second inning. Rabbetts finished 2-for-3, scoring twice, with Jones (2-for-4) and DiPietro (2-for-3) also collecting multiple hits.
Seton Hall 3, Drexel 2
Box Score
It was another dramatic walk off victory for The Hall, although this time it came in a more conventional fashion. Drexel had come back to tie the game in the top of the sixth, erasing a 2-0 lead the Pirates had held since the first, and neither team scored again until the final at bat.
With one away, pinch hitter Alannah Basile (Levittown, N.Y.) beat out an infield single to short, with Valerie Suto (Mercerville, N.J.) re-entering the game to run at first. Harrell stepped to the plate and shot a single to right, but once again the Pirates were aided by an errant throw.
Suto initially held up to ensure Harrell's base hit was going to drop safely, once she took off, Zamore attempted to catch her at second, only her throw was off target, bounced off of Suto, and into right field. Harrell noticed no fielder's near the loose ball, resulting in runners at second and third with no outs.
Facing an 0-2 count, Jones drilled a double into the corner in right, Suto scored easily on the play, and the Pirates completed their sweep.
Back in the first inning, Walkden moved one step closer to Seton Hall history, hitting a two-run shot over the scoreboard in left field, her BIG EAST leading 17th homer of the year, which places her one behind Laura Taylor's single-season record of 18, set back in 2002.
That margin held until the sixth, when Baeley Reed drove in two unearned runs with two outs off a single to center. Outside of that, starter Danielle DeStaso (Congers, N.Y.) faced little difficulty in posting her ninth win of the year.
She allowed no earned runs and scattered seven hits over seven-innings in a complete-game effort. She struck out three, and also went 1-for-3 at the plate.
Seton Hall will return to action this Thursday, April 23, for a single non-conference game against Stony Brook. First pitch at Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field is scheduled for 4 p.m.
http://www.shupirates.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/042115aaa.html
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