TOWSON, Md. - Erika Stasch's home run in the bottom of the seventh gave the Tigers a 4-3 walk-off win over Delaware State on Thursday afternoon. The junior hit her fifth home run of the year for Towson (19-21) to complete the comeback win.
"Erika came through in the clutch for us and we needed it," said Coach Lisa Costello. "I thought Dominique Ortega threw well and did a nice job making adjustments after a rough first inning."
Delaware State jumped out to an early lead as it sent seven batters to the plate in the first inning and scored three runs. Ashley Davis and Janelle Lukens had RBI singles in the inning for the Hornets while Casey Beighley stole home on a double steal.
Towson got one of those runs back in the bottom of the first. Rachel Miller reached on a walk leading off the inning and scored on Andrea Stevenson's sac fly to center.
The Tigers made it a 3-2 game with a run in the bottom of the third. With two outs, the Tigers got back-to-back singles from Stevenson and Lindsey Kent. Jillian Donnelly then singled to left field allowing Stevenson to score.
The game remained tied at 3-2 as neither team was able to score in the middle three innings.
Ortega was able to shut the Hornets down in the top of the seventh, setting the stage for Stasch's heroics.
After a Miller single leading off the frame, Sammi DiPompo reached on a fielder's choice. With one out, Stasch stepped to the plate and drilled a ball over the fence in right center for her team-leading fifth home run of the year and the victory.
After a tough first inning, Ortega settled down to earn her seventh win of the season. She allowed four hits in the first inning and then allowed just four hits the rest of the way. She gave up three runs on eight hits while tying her season-high with four strikeouts. Stephanie Sarris took the loss for Delaware State in relief. She allowed two runs on two hits in 1.1 innings of work.
Five different Tigers recorded a hit in the game. Stasch had the two RBIs and a run scored while Stevenson had a run scored and an RBI. Donnelly had the Tigers' other RBI in the game. Lukens led Delaware State as she was 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI while Davis had a hit, an RBI and a run scored.
Towson returns to action when it resumes Colonial Athletic Association play this weekend. The Tigers travel to CAA leading Hofstra for a three-game set starting Saturday, April 23 at noon.
-- TOWSONTIGERS.COM --
