COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College softball team got plenty of production from its first-year contingent in gaining a split of Tuesday's non-league doubleheader with Delaware Valley, recovering from a 7-5 loss in the opener to post an 8-4 Game Two triumph in their first home games of the season.
Freshman Sammi Donato went 5-for-8 with three triples and four RBI and scored three runs on the day for Ursinus (6-6), while fellow rookie Kayla Quinn finished 4-of-5 with three runs scored and three RBI at the plate to complement seven strikeouts in less than three innings of relief in Game One. First-year Callie Crouse slugged the first home run of her career in the nightcap on a crisp afternoon in Collegeville.
Donato tripled in each of her first two at-bats in the opener, the second a two-RBI knock to center that capped a three-run second inning and staked the Bears to a 4-1 lead.
However, Delaware Valley (6-7) roared back with six runs in the fifth, utilizing four hits and an Ursinus error to seize command for good. Jamie Stefani cleared the bases with a double to the gap in left-center to make it 5-4, and Morgan Brown sent a towering shot over the wall in right-center to polish off the outburst. The Bears got one back in the seventh, but could do no more damage as Stefani held on for the final out.
Stefani went 3-for-4 with three RBI at the plate and went the distance on the mound, surrendering just one earned run (five total) on five hits.
Donato finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and became the first Ursinus player to record two triples in a game since Allison Pfrommer, who did it twice during the 2012 season. Quinn scored a pair of runs and was absolutely dominant in relief of senior starter Zoe Heinke, striking out seven and allowing just one hit in 2.2 dazzling frames.
Trailing 1-0 in Game Two, Crouse pulled Ursinus onto level ground with a solo shot to lead off the second, just sneaking one inside the left-field foul pole for her first collegiate round-tripper. Donato gave the Bears a permanent lead in the third, when she tripled to center with one out and scored on a grounder by freshman Gabrielle Manto.
After sophomore Bridget Winay set the Aggies down in order in the fourth, Ursinus broke it open with a five-run explosion in the bottom half. Quinn started the party with a two-run double off the top of the fence in left center – just missing a grand slam – and Donato followed with a blooper behind the bag at third that scored a pair and pushed the margin to 6-1. The freshman came around to score on Heinke's infield hit.
Delaware Valley sliced the gap in half with a three-run fifth before Ursinus got one back when Quinn scored on a throwing error by the catcher. The Aggies had runners on second and third in the sixth, but Quinn quashed the threat with a nifty backhand pick at third.
Quinn was 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run for the Bears, while Donato (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2R) and Crouse (2-for-3) also had multi-hit performances. Freshman Alexa DelMonte doubled and scored two runs.
Winay (1-2) picked up her first victory of the season with a complete game; she allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out four without a walk.
Ursinus is back in action on Thursday, March 24, with a twin bill at No. 18 Moravian.
Pictured above: Crouse connected on this pitch for her first collegiate home run.
