TOWSON, Md. - Four Towson pitchers combined to allow just one run in 14 innings as the Tigers swept a doubleheader from Seton Hall on Wednesday afternoon. Towson (8-3) captured game-one by a 6-0 score before taking the nightcap by a 5-1 margin.
"I thought our pitching was very strong today," said Coach Lisa Costello. "They controlled the pace of the game and our hitters came through with some clutch base hits today."
The Tigers continued their trend of getting on the scoreboard in the first inning in game-one. With two outs Sammi DiPompo worked a walk and stole second. Stef Streets followed with a single up the middle and DiPompo was able to cross the plate.
Towson would add to its lead in the second after Lindsey Kent singled leading off. Erika Stasch ripped a double to right center to score Kent.
The Tigers were not done yet as Andrea Stevenson started the third with a double to left center. Stevenson was sacrificed to third and scored after DiPompo followed with a double of her own to left center. With two outs in the inning, Courtney Wittner reached on an error that allowed DiPompo to score.
Towson would add a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth for the final two of the game. DiPompo was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Haley Stueckler who had reached on a walk. With the bases still loaded, Streets reached on a fielding error by the Pirates allowing Kim Lempa to score.
Shannon Johnston went the first five innings in the circle for the Tigers to record the win, her third of the season. Johnston struck out four and allowed just five hits. Katie Lingmai went the final two innings and did not allow a hit while striking out two. Katie Stilwell took the loss for the Pirates after allowing four runs on five hits in 2.1 innings.
DiPompo had one hit, scored two runs and drove in two in the game. Stasch and Streets had the other RBIs for the Tigers.
In game two, the Tigers went to work early again with a run in the first. Towson is now 6-1 when scoring a run in the first inning this year. Stevenson reached on an error and was sacrificed to third. DiPompo had a one-out single up the middle to score Stevenson.
The Tigers' big inning in game-two came in the bottom of the third. Streets drilled a three-run home run to left center with one out to make it a 4-0 game. Stevenson and DiPompo scored on Streets' bomb. The Tigers were not done in the inning as Wittner had a two-out single to right and scored on Stasch's triple to right.
Seton Hall finally got on the board in the fourth with a single run. The Pirates' tally snapped a 15-inning scoreless streak for the Tigers, dating back to the third inning of Sunday's game with Princeton. With two outs and runners on second and third, Jeanette Ragucci hit a hard ball up the middle, which allowed Nicole Loewenstein to score. On the play, Cashel Gaffey tried to score from second but a strong throw from Stasch in center field to the plate proved to be the third out.
Britney Croner earned her first win of the year in the circle. She allowed one run on four hits before giving way to Dominique Ortega. Ortega went the final three innings without allowing a hit and striking out three to earn her first career save. Ashley Forsyth took the loss after surrendering five runs in 2.2 innings.
Streets was 2-for-2 with three RBIs and a run scored in the second game while Stasch had two hits and an RBI. Stevenson scored two runs in the contest for the Tigers. Gaffey was the only Pirate with multiple hits in the game as she finished with two.
Towson returns to action this weekend at the Winthrop/Adidas Invitational. Towson is set to face Hartford and Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, March 13.
-- TIGERS --
