Saturday, April 24, 2010

DeLAND, Fla. - A recent outbreak of late-inning magic struck twice more for the Stetson softball team (30-19, 12-6 Atlantic Sun) on Saturday in a 7-3, 2-1 sweep of visiting Kennesaw State (24-22, 9-7 A-Sun) at Patricia Wilson Field. Senior pitcher Amanda Lindsey (Byhalia, Miss.) hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the eighth in the first game while junior right fielder Rachel Lowe (Okeechobee, Fla.) ended the nightcap with a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning.

Stetson has now won six consecutive games overall, eight straight home games and three in a row in its final turn at bat. The victories also moved the Hatters into second place in the A-Sun standings and sewed up their spot in the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships, set for May 13-15 at Patricia Wilson Field.

The Hatters trailed 3-2 in the first game with two out in the bottom of the seventh and freshman left fielder Chelsea Whalley (Calgary, Alta.) on second base. A passed ball sent Whalley to third and sophomore shortstop Chelsey Trotto (Lantana, Fla.) immediately plated her with a single to right field that tied the game.

After the Owls failed to score in their half of the eighth, the Hatters went to work on the winning rally. An error, base hit, sacrifice bunt and intentional walk loaded the bases with one out for Lindsey; she smashed a 2-0 pitch from KSU's Jessica Cross out of the park to center field for a game-ending grand slam.

Lindsey went the distance, striking out 10 batters and letting in just three runs, all unearned on four hits and three walks. Senior catcher Jessica Lokeinsky (Cooper City, Fla.) went three for four with a double while Lowe had a double and an RBI groundout. First baseman Ashlee Burkett led the Owls with two hits, an RBI and a run scored; Cross took the loss in a complete-game effort. Kennesaw State could not take advantage of some shaky defense; the Hatters committed five errors in the ballgame.