Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 MADISON, N.J. – The FDU-Florham Devils softball team earned two victories over DeSales University (9-10, 4-4 Freedom), both by the score of 7-6 and in walk-off fashion, on Saturday afternoon at McManus Field.
In the first game, the Devils used a seventh inning rally to overcome a 6-2 deficit and even the score before ultimately walking off in the decisive 10
th inning. Nearly identical, game two saw FDU-Florham (15-10, 8-2 Freedom) come back after trailing 6-3 late in the game to claim a 7-6 win.
Sophomore right-hander
Sydney Worek (Bordentown, N.J./Florence Township) earned the victory in both games and improved to 9-6 on the season, after starting the first game and tossing one inning of relief in game two.
Game One: FDU-Florham trailed 6-2 through six innings of action, with their two runs coming courtesy of a fielder's choice and a throwing error. In the bottom of the seventh, senior third baseman
Kristie Crilley (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) began the rally with a one-out single through the left side of the infield.
After an infield single by sophomore first baseman
Jaclyn Herrington (Huntington, N.Y./Huntington),
Maggie Murphy (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) loaded the bases with a single to left field. Leadoff hitter
Brittni Wurst (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North) drew a walk, which scored a run and then sophomore second baseman
Nikki Caruso (Madison, N.J./Madison) cleared the bases with a three-run single to center field and tied the game at 6-6.
In the home half of the tenth inning and Caruso on second base, an attempted sacrifice bunt by sophomore
Jenna Appello (Forked River, N.J./Lacey Township) resulted in an overthrow by the Bulldogs pitcher, which allowed Caruso to scamper home with the game-winning run.
Caruso finished the first game 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two runs batted in, while senior designated player
Sarah Lima (Stanfordville, N.Y./Pine Plains) went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Game Two:The second game of the day started with a bang, as Appello crushed her team-leading seventh homer of the season over the center field fence and gave the Devils a 1-0 lead.
Trailing 2-1, Caruso plated a run with an RBI-double and Herrington followed with an RBI-single to put FDU-Florham in front 3-2. In the top of the fifth, DeSales' freshman
Alexa Beaumont launched a two-run blast, which put the Bulldogs on top 4-3 and they tacked on two more runs in the sixth to claim a 6-3 advantage.
The Devils cut into DeSales' lead thanks to an RBI-single by Crilley and a sacrifice fly by Herrington. Down 6-5 in the bottom of the seventh, the Devils late-inning magic continued as Caruso crushed a double to left center field, which tied the game at 6-6.
After a sacrifice bunt, Caruso safely crossed the plate on sophomore catcher
Wynne McCann's (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown Area) grounder to the shortstop, which completed the two-game sweep for FDU-Florham.
Caruso led a cast of seven Devils who had hits in the game by going 2-for-4 with the game-winning run scored and two RBI, while Herrington knocked in two runs in the victory.
Next up for the Devils:The Devils remaining five games are away from home and they begin that stretch on Sunday, April 13
th with a doubleheader at Wilkes University, which starts at 1 p.m.