Staten Island, NY – The Wagner College softball team split its doubleheader against Delaware State on Sunday, March 9, falling 9-7 in game one before bouncing back with a 4-1 victory in game two.
Game One: Wagner 7, Delaware State 9
The Seahawks started strong, plating two runs in the first inning. With freshman
Alayna Giampolo on third and junior
Geanice Morales advancing to second on a wild pitch, freshman
Taylor Reynolds delivered a two-RBI single to right field, bringing both runners home.
Delaware State responded with a run in the top of the second, but Wagner quickly answered. Junior
Jordyn Dulken doubled to second, and sophomore
Leilani Gonzales advanced to third. Sophomore
Lea Rachal then singled to the pitcher, driving in two runs. Junior
Payton Janicki followed with a double to right field, advancing Rachal to third. A throwing error by the right fielder allowed both Rachal and Janicki to score. Morales capped off the inning with an RBI single through the right side, driving in
Janicki to give Wagner a 6-1 lead.
The Hornets chipped away with a run in the third before Wagner extended its lead to 7-2. Giampolo reached on an error, allowing Gonzales to advance to third and sophomore
Anna Burke to score an unearned run.
Delaware State mounted a comeback in the fourth inning. A solo home run and an RBI single cut the deficit before a three-run homer tied the game at 7-7. The Hornets then took the lead in the sixth inning with two more runs, and Wagner was unable to respond, falling 9-7.
In the circle, junior
Natalie Rodriguez started for Wagner, pitching two innings while allowing two hits and two runs. Junior
Dallas Garcia relieved her, throwing 1.1 innings and surrendering four runs on three hits. Junior
Emma Crosby followed with 1.2 innings of relief, allowing two hits and striking out one. Sophomore
Karson Zavala closed the game, pitching two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out four.
Game Two: Wagner 4, Delaware State 1
The Seahawks came out strong again in game two, scoring three runs in the first inning. Freshman
Lilly Banse drew a bases-loaded walk, bringing freshman
Emma Rocha home. Freshman
Savannah Czornomor then followed with a two-RBI single to third, scoring Morales and Janicki to give Wagner an early 3-0 lead.
Wagner added another run in the second inning when Rocha reached on a shortstop error, allowing sophomore
Sam Estrada to score, extending the lead to 4-0.
Delaware State's only run came in the sixth inning on a wild pitch, but it wasn't enough as the Seahawks held on for the 4-1 win.
Zavala was dominant in the circle, throwing a complete-game victory. She allowed just three hits, one run, and one walk while striking out six.
Up next, the Seahawks hit the road to take on Rutgers in Piscataway, NJ, on Tuesday, March 11.
