(Dover, Del.) – Battling windy conditions throughout Saturday afternoon, the Delaware State softball team (9-5) began the second day of the Hornet Invite with a 1-0 loss to the Lehigh Mountain Hawks (6-10), but answered with a 4-1 comeback win over the Hartford Hawks (2-9).
Against the Mountain Hawks, the game was scoreless through four innings until Lehigh's Emma Capetz RBI-singled through the right side off DSU's Tara Tursellino (4-1) to bring Lizzy Odren from second during the fifth.
However, after holding Lehigh scoreless the rest of the way, Delaware State had a chance to win in the seventh when it loaded the bases with two outs after outfielder Nicole Gazzola singled to center field. Unfortunately, ensuing batter Jordan Stamps lined out to Capetz at short to end the game.
Despite the loss, DSU tallied six hits, compared to Lehigh's three as Gazzola, infielder Rochelle Sablay and infielder Danielle Velez totaled two each. Although, the Hornets stranded nine runners on-base at game's end.
In the circle, regardless of giving up the game's lone run, Tursellino allowed three hits and recorded three strikeouts in five innings of work before getting replaced by Vanessa Ciocatto (4-3), whereas Christine Campbell (3-3) allowed six hits, one walk and fanned five DSU batters.
Later in the afternoon against Hartford, the Hornets found themselves down 1-0 in the first inning when outfielder Sawyer Fried, who doubled earlier in the frame, scored from second after a DSU error.
Still trailing by one, Delaware State's offense found its groove in the fifth, beginning with Sablay tying the game with a RBI-single to right field to drive in Gazzola from second, who led off the inning with a bunt single. The Hornets would go on to score two more runs during the frame to make it a 3-1 contest with back-to-back RBI-singles by Tursellino and catcher Sandy Hawthorne.
Next inning, same score, the Hornets managed to load the bases with one out after Stamps was drilled by reliever Kaitlyn Meade (0-2). Fortunately DSU, Sablay drew a walk in the following at-bat to extend her team's lead to three. Yet, the Hornets failed to widen the gap as Hartford got out of the jam, capped off by Tursellino grounding out to Meade to end the inning.
Down to its last three outs, Hartford's comeback attempt dwindled quickly with Ciocatto (1) retiring the first two batters. Outfielder Margaret Betz, meanwhile, kept the Hawks' rally hopes alive with a single to right field, but ensuing batter Meghan Wynn grounded to third to secure her squad's second loss to the Hornets in back-to-back days.
Collectively, Delaware State tallied nine hits, led by Hawthorne going 3-for-3 and Gazzola turning in a 2-for-2 output at the plate.
Pitching wise, Rachel Meagley (1-1) picked up her first win of the season while allowing one hit, one walk and totaling one strikeout in five innings of the work. Ciocatto, on the other hand, picked up her first save, despite allowing three hits.
Coming up, the Columbia Blue & Red will conclude the Hornet Invite tomorrow against Hartford (11:15 a.m.) and Leigh (3:30 p.m.)
*Note: Tomorrow's games will be held at Dover High School… Monday's doubleheader against Columbia has been postponed for a later date.
