(Towson, Md.) – The Delaware State softball team (7-21) failed to get over the hump in Tuesday evening's road doubleheader, as the Towson Tigers (17-16) combined for 22 hits and five home runs on its way to a 10-2 six-inning win in game one, followed by a 9-1 five-inning victory in game two.
With these defeats, the Hornets have now dropped seven out of their last eight games, while the Tigers are now 6-1 in their last seven contests.
The first game began with the Hornets taking a 1-0 lead in the opening inning by way of infielder Jordan Stamps connecting for an RBI-double down the right field line to bring in catcher Sandy Hawthorne, who doubled earlier in the frame. The Tigers responded in the following inning and never looked back, as Daria Edwards (1) blasted a three-run bomb off starter Tara Tursellino (5-14). Towson went on to hit two more homers off Tursellino, including a two-run blast by Brook Miko (3) in the sixth to put the Tigers up 9-2.
At game's end, Tursellino finished her 18th start of the year surrendering 10 hits, nine earned runs and five walks, while Towson's Olivia Baltazar (2-0) allowed six hits, one earned run, a walk and fanned two DSU batters. Offensively for the Tigers, Holiday Cahill was a triple short of hitting for the cycle, which also included drawing a walk, whereas outfielder Nicole Gazzola and Hawthorne both went 2-for-3 with a run scored to the lead way for DSU.
Looking to split, Delaware State once again took a first inning lead, this time with infielder Chloe Oro recording an infield RBI-single to bring Gazzola from third. Unfortunately for the Hornets, Towson's offensive prowess carried over from game one, as it scored three times over the next three innings, including back-to-back solo shots by Miko (4) and Cahill (8) off freshman Jessica Shalongo (2-7) during the third inning. Towson later ended the game in the fifth with a five-run output, capped off by Miko and Cahill connecting for back-to-back RBI-singles.
When the two teams shook hands, Cahill led all players with her 3-for-4 effort, while Miko and Edwards both went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Pitching wise, TU's Ambar Hickman (4-2) relinquished six hits, three walks and tallied two K's, whereas Shalongo's rough outing included giving up 12 hits, nine earned runs and five walks.
Coming up, the Columbia Blue & Red will continue their eight-game road swing with a weekend three-game series at Coppin State, beginning Saturday at 1 p.m.
