Center Valley, PA (March 27, 2008) – The DeSales University softball team was swept by 18th ranked Montclair State University on Thursday afternoon by scores of 2-0 and 8-6 in a non-conference doubleheader on a chilly afternoon.
The Bulldogs fall to 8-4 overall with the two losses, while the Red Hawks improve to 12-2 overall with the sweep. Senior Carolyn McCrea was the story in game one as she pitched a four-hit shutout striking out 15 batters and walking four to lead MSU to the win.
Senior Jackie Ferranti got Montclair State on the board when she hit a solo home run in the top of the third inning and the Red Hawks added an insurance run in the top of the fifth inning when senior Maureen Shockley singled home pinch-runner Briana Hopkins with the second run. The Bulldogs put two runners on base in both the sixth and seventh innings but McCrea pitched out trouble each time to end any threat.
Freshman Jen Lococo (Easton, PA/Freedom) pitched very well in the loss in game one going all seven innings allowing seven hits and two runs while striking out four. Junior Maddie Roxandich (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) had two of DSU's four hits in game one.
DSU jumped out early in game two as they scored five times in the first inning to take a 5-0 lead. Junior Amanda Kensecki (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty), Lococo, freshman Kylie Fehnel (Nazareth, PA/Bethlehem Catholic), junior Kelly Moran (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) and freshman #Meghan Callahan# (Franklin Square, NJ/H. Frank Carey) each had RBI's in the five-run first.
MSU answered with four runs in the top of the second inning to cut the margin down to one run. Freshman Larissa Tenley (Sinking Spring, PA/Conrad Weiser) blanked the Red Hawks over the next two innings before MSU broke thru with four runs in the top of the fifth to put the visitor's up 8-5. McCrea returned to the mound in the bottom of the fifth inning in relief of Elia Persico and was greeted by freshman Kate Steiner (Walnutport, PA/Northampton) who hit a solo home run to left-center field but that was all the damage the Bulldogs could do as the game was called due to darkness with the Red Hawks leading 8-6 after five innings.
Persico was awarded the win going four innings allowing eight hits and striking out three, while McCrea earned her second save of the season. Tenley suffered the loss allowing eight runs over 4.1 innings pitched.
Lococo, Fehnel and Steiner each had two hits to lead the offensive attack for the Bulldogs. Eight of the nine starters for DeSales had hits in the second game. Steiner's home run was the third of the season for the freshman.
DeSales is slated to return to action on Saturday, March 29th when they travel to Delaware Valley College for a Freedom Conference doubleheader beginning at 1:00 pm.
