Newtown, Pa. - The Holy Family University softball team rallied late in both games of a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) doubleheader to sweep cross-town rival Philadelphia University by the scores of 3-2 and 5-4 on Friday afternoon at Helen Randle Park.
Holy Family improves to 14-9 overall and 14-8 in the CACC, while Philadelphia is now 17-21 overall and 10-10 in conference action. The two victories also pushed the Tigers to 10-0 in games they are designated the home team this season.
Sophomore
Bailey Walters (Ridgecrest, Calif./Burroughs) picked up both victories in the pitching circle as she started both games for the Tigers. In 14.0 innings of work, Walters held the Rams' offense to 10 hits and three runs (1 earned) on the afternoon.
Offensively, sophomores
Madison McCleery (Barrington, N.J./Haddon Heights) and
Brianna Scotto (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) both went yard for the Tigers. McCleery hit a game-tying home run in the seventh inning of game two, while Scotto hit a solo shot in game one to break up an early no-hit bid. Scotto finished the afternoon 3-for-5 at the plate with three runs and two RBI.
Junior
Alexis Daubert (Stratford, N.J./Sterling) also had three hits as she finished the day 3-for-6 with two RBI, while freshman
Jenna Vasquez (Newark, Del./Caravel Academy) went 2-for-7 with a double and two RBI.
Game One: Holy Family 3, Philadelphia 2 In the opener, the Tigers fell behind early by the score of 2-0 after Philadelphia came through with a pair of runs in the first inning. Senior pitcher Samantha Abromavage was dealing early on for the Rams as she retired the first nine Holy Family batters.
In the bottom half of the fourth, Scotto led the inning off with a solo homer to left field breaking up Abromavage's early no-hit and shutout bid.
The score remained 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. Freshman
Taylor Favinger (Deptford, N.J./Gloucester County Inst. of Tech.) led the inning off with a single to right field and then advanced to second after a ground out by Walters. Casey then followed with an infield single moving Favinger over to third.
With two outs in the inning, Daubert came through with a clutch-hit base hit down the right field line that plated both Favinger and Casey to give the Tigers' their first lead of the game at 3-2. Daubert finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate.
In the seventh, Walters retired the lead-off batter, but walked freshman pinch-hitter Mariah Hans. Junior Renee Kakareka re-entered the game as a pinch-runner and the Tigers managed catch her off guard on a delayed steal.
Junior catcher
Claudia Boggi (West Chester, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) threw down to first on the delayed steal and a quick throw by Daubert caught Kakareka attempting to steal second base.
The failed stolen base came back to haunt the Rams because senior Emma Haley followed with a triple to right field. Haley finished the game 2-for-4 with a run. Walters then forced a pop out to second base from senior Stephanie Martin to close out the game and securing the one-run victory.
Walters (5-4) went the distance as she allowed just two runs (1 earned) in seven innings of work. After giving up the two runs in the first inning, Walters settled down and held the Rams scoreless the rest of the way.
Abromavage (7-7) received the loss in a six-inning effort. She allowed three runs on seven hits.
Game Two: Holy Family 5, Philadelphia 4 In game two, the Tigers rallied with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to record the walk-off victory over the Rams. With one out to start the inning, sophomore
Madison McCleery (Barrington, N.J./Haddon Heights) stepped up to the plate and launched a solo home run to dead center field to tie the game at 4-4. It marked McCleery's first home run of the season as she was appearing in her first game this year.
Scotto followed with a walk and then advanced to second after Vasquez reached base on a fielder's choice. The Rams tried to get Scotto out at second but she avoided the tag to give the Tigers a runner in scoring position.
Favinger came up and delivered a single to right field. Vasquez rounded third as junior Kasia Smith came up firing towards home plate. Vasquez beat the throw to score the game-winning run.
Walters (6-4) earned the victory for the Tigers in seven innings of work. She allowed one unearned run on five hits. Freshman
Morgan Maida (Eatonville, Wash./Eatonville) entered in the sixth inning but was unable to record an out before Walters re-entered the game. Maida was charged with three runs.
Vasquez finished the game 2-for-4 as she recorded a two-run single in the fifth inning after Scotto drove in a run with a double to left field.
For Philadelphia, Haley went 3-for-4 with two RBI to cap the afternoon with five hits for the Rams.
Holy Family is back in action on Saturday, April 18 as the Tigers travel to face Dominican College in a CACC doubleheader. Game one is slated for 12 p.m.
- HFU -
