MADISON, N.J. (April 11, 2019) - Sophomore
Taylor Tobey hit a walk-off double in the eighth inning of game one before classmate
Kaleigh Oplinger tossed a five-hitter in the second game to lead the FDU-Florham softball team to 10-9 and 2-0 victories over Drew University Thursday.
The Devils improve to 11-14 on the season and have won eight straight games.
GAME 1: FDU-Florham 10, Drew 9 (Eight Innings)
In a game that featured 19 combined runs and 35 combined hits, the Devils fell behind in the first inning courtesy of a two-run home run. FDU answered back with three tallies of their own in the second to take a 3-2 lead. Sophomore
Francesca Shipe and freshman
Colleen Conway hit one-out singles before Tobey singled to load the bases. Juniors
Gabby Young and
Tara Morash each recorded singles after, bringing in all three runs.
Freshman
Ciara Hoffman escaped the third unscathed by getting a 4-6-3 double play with runners on first and second but found herself facing bases loaded with one out in the top of fourth. Hoffman coaxed an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play, and the Devils tacked on a pair in the home half of the frame. Young singled with one out before stealing second and was brought around on an RBI knock to center by sophomore
Dani Sames. Sames crossed the plate two batters later, as classmate
Nicole Casale would reach on an error.
The Devils added a pair of markers in the fifth, starting with pinch-hitters
Dana Giardina and
Emma Gaffney walking and singling respectively. Tobey dropped a single into right field to plate Giardina before Young and Morash each singled with bunts. Sames flew out to center field, and Tobey was tagged out on the play, but the umpire ruled obstruction, allowing Tobey to score.
The Rangers battled back scoring three unearned runs in the sixth before adding three additional runs in the seventh to take an 8-7 lead. Young led off the seventh with a single and stole second on the first pitch. Two batters later, Sames dropped a single into left that got past the fielder, allowing Young to touch home with the tying run. With the international tie-breaker in effect, the Rangers moved the runner over to third on a groundout before a pop-up made it two outs. A wild pitch would score the runner from third, giving the visitors a 9-8 lead.
FDU rallied in the home half of the inning, as pinch-runner
Hunter Ruppel moved from second to third on a Shipe sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, junior
Annamarie Santangelo hit a routine grounder to the third basemen that was bobbled, allowing Ruppel to score. Tobey was the next hitter and delivered the walk-off hit, a double to dead centerfield to cap off game one.
GAME 2: FDU-Florham 2, Drew 0
FDU wasted little time in the nightcap, scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Morash doubled to left field with one down before senior
Courtney Rohde delivered a run-scoring double to right center to give FDU the 1-0 lead. The Rangers loaded the bases in the third, but Oplinger got a groundout to the catcher to close out the frame.
The Devils manufactured the final run in the bottom of the third. Young led off with a walk and swiped second before moving to third on a Morash sacrifice bunt. Sames grounded out to the shortstop with Young scoring on the play to double the Devils lead. Drew threatened again in the top of the fifth, putting on first and second with two outs. Oplinger induced a pop-up to second base to retire the final batter of the inning. The sophomore was especially dominant over the last two frames, setting the Rangers down in order in each of the two innings.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Young and Tobey each went 4-for-5 with two runs scored in the first, with Young swiping three bags.
- Oplinger pitched her first collegiate shutout, allowing just two walks to go along with the five hits. She recorded 13 flyball outs and eight groundouts.
- Rohde reached base twice in each game, working a pair of walks in the opener.
- The Devils have the last seven games against the Rangers, with the last loss coming in 2015.
UP NEXT
The Devils resume conference play on Saturday, taking on DeSales University in doubleheader at 12 p.m.
