Blue Hen Softball Posts 5-4 Walkoff Victory in Eight Innings Over Saint Joseph's Blue Hen junior Amanda Stacevicz hit a groundball that got past Saint Joseph's second baseman Bernadette Moran to allow Bertie Lake to score the winning run for the Univ. of Delaware softball team.
File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell - Blue Hen junior Amanda Stacevicz
Blue Hen junior Amanda Stacevicz hit a groundball that got past Saint Joseph's second baseman Bernadette Moran to allow Bertie Lake to score the winning run as the University of Delaware softball team posted a 5-4 win in eight innings over Saint Joseph's Wednesday afternoon at the Delaware Softball Stadium.
The Blue Hens, who improved to 11-24 on the season, entered the bottom of the eighth tied with the Hawks before Lake opened the rally with a single to rightcenter. Jenny Richards then struck out, before Lake moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a groundout by Michelle McKinnon. Following an intentional walk to Lara Andrews, Hawks pitcher Taryn Ashway got Stacevicz to hit a routine groundball to Moran. However with Andrews charging toward second base, Moran could not stop the ball, allowing it to roll into rightfield as Lake crossed the plate with the winning run.
Saint Joseph’s, which dropped to 23-13 this year, opened the scoring by pushing across a pair of runs during the top of the second. With one out Rochelle Christman worked a walk, and one out later she scored when Morgan Earling doubled off the leftfield fence. Alaina Loguidice then hit a groundball in front of the plate but Lake dropped UD catcher Gina Knutson’s throw to first, as Earling came all the way around from second to give the Hawks a two-run lead.
Delaware responded with a three-run third inning, as that rally was also ignited by Lake who led off with an infield single. Richards then bounced into a fielder’s choice, but McKinnon reached on an error by Loguidice at first base to put runners on the corners. Andrews then grounded a hard single to left to drive home Richards, while McKinnon crossed the plate on another single to left by Stacevicz. Knutson (at right) then singled up the middle, chasing home pinch runner Samantha Pettie to put the Blue Hens on top, 3-2.
Saint Joseph’s tied the game in the fifth when Earling drilled a home run over the rightfield fence, but Delaware would get the lead right back during the bottom of the frame when Stacevicz and Knutson each doubled to right center.
The Hawks rallied back in the sixth off UD relief pitcher Kathleen Conway as Monica Aguilar stroked a two-out single to center, moved to second when the ball was misplayed by Andrews, and scored when Shannon Kramer followed with a single into right. The game then remained scoreless until the bottom of the eighth, when Delaware scored its unearned run to post the victory.
Knutson led the way for the Blue Hens by finishing 3 for 3 with two RBI, while Stacevicz was 2 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored. Lake collected a pair of hits and scored a run, while Andrews and Rachel Jones added a hit apiece.
