(Courtesy of University of the Sciences Sports Information)
PHILADELPHIA- Erin Summers had three hits in game two while pitchers Julie Shaw and Courtney Spina kept the Georgian Court University lineup off balance as the University of the Sciences women's softball team won both games of their doubleheader against the Lions, 2-0 and 3-2 at McNeil Field in Philadlephia on Tuesday.
The Devils improved to 5-7 overall and 3-1 in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference games. Georgian Court falls to 10-10 overall and 0-4 in league games. Tuesday's sweep marked the first time in program history that a USciences softball team swept both games of the doubleheader against Georgian Court.
Shaw pitched a three-hit shutout in the opener walking one and striking out three to earn her second win of the season. Spina allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out nine and walking one for her third win of the season. Her nine strikeouts put her over the 200 mark for her career, becoming the fourth player in program history to do so.
After going hitless in the opener, Summers' bat came alive in the nightcap, as the junior centerfielder had three hits in four at-bats while driving in the tying and eventual winning run in trhe Devils three-run fourth inning.
Trailing 2-0, The Devils loaded the bases on a walk to Kerrianne Jones a single byLaura Pietropola, a a bunt single by Courtney Corcoran. Haley Kavelak then drew a walk to score Jones with the first Devils run. A unassisted double play by the Georgian Court catcher Christina Masitti almost got the Lions out of the inning, but Summers hit a rope down the right field line to score Corcoran and Kavelak with the tying and go-ahead runs as summers legged out a triple in the process.
Spina then retired Georgian Court in order in both the fifth and sixth innings, running a streak of 10 straight outs before the Lions got a leadoff single from Masitti. Spina then proceeded to strike out the next three batters to give the Devils the 3-2 win. It was the second time in the game that she had struck out the side in an inning (did it in the 4th inning).
In the opener, Shaw turned in her second straight solid performance, limiting the Lion offense to just three hits. The junior righthander retired 14 of the last 15 bastters she faced with the only blemish being a leadoff double by Rachel Ruch in the sixth inning. GCU's only threat came in the third when they loaded the bases with one out, but failed to score.
The Devils meanwhile took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning. Austyn Grim walked and was replaced at first by a pinch runner, Samantha Shaver. A sacrifice by Janelle Rodriguez and a single from Courtney Corcoran moved Shaver to third. Kavelak then hit a slow grounder to the second baseman, Ruch, who elected to throw home in the attempt to nail Shaver who was running on the play, at the plate. Shaver however beat the throw to give the Devils their first run of the game.
One inning later, The Devils added an insurance run as Devon Debellis came around to score on an RBI single off the bat of Grim. The two runs was all that Shaw needed as the Lions could not muster up any offense in the final two innings, giving the Devils the win.
Grim and Corcoran had two hits apiece to pace the Devils.
