After two losses to open the Tiger Invitational in Auburn, Alabama on Friday, the Seton Hall softball team was hungry to get their first win of the season. The Pirates opened Saturday’s game with pure dominance and defeated UMass Lowell 12-0.
Graduate student Janae Barracato began the offensive tear for The Hall with a double, followed by another double from Abby Wingo. Shelby Smith’s sac-fly later in the inning would send Barracato home to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead. Freshman Jenna Blevins drove one deep over the left field wall in the second inning for a solo homerun and a 2-run lead for Seton Hall. This was her first collegiate hit.
The offensive boom occurred in the third inning, as Seton Hall would put up 5 runs. A leadoff single from Ashly Colonetta was followed by another series of Barracato-Wingo back-to-back doubles to score twice. A Hannah Alexander single put another run on the board, and Taylor Hill’s sac-fly scored once more. The fifth run came from senior Gabby Ciancio on a wild pitch as Seton Hall lead 7-0 after three innings.
When the fourth inning rolled around, The Hall decided to keep rounding the bases and added 5 more runs beginning with singles from none other than Barracato and Wingo who both scored on errors from UMass Lowell. Blevins tacked on a single for a Hill score. Marisa Pla capped the scoring for Seton Hall with a two-run triple for a 12-0 Pirates victory.
Sydney Babik earned her first win of the season with a shut-out victory over the River Hawks and her first complete game. Eight different Pirates were in hit column for their 12-0 win. The win also marks the first for head coach Angie Churchill.
Though Friday’s loss against the River Hawks was avenged Saturday, Seton Hall could not get the job done against Auburn as the Tigers walked away with a 9-1 win. Barracato’s reach on an error gave Shelby Smith the opportunity to send her home and did so with a double in the first inning. Auburn was held scoreless through two but sealed the game through the last three innings.
Seton Hall softball now stands at 1-3 at the conclusion of the Tiger Invitational. They return to action Saturday, February 19th as they travel to Baltimore for the Retriever Round Robin #1 to face UMBC and Saint Joseph’s.
