PRINCESS ANNE, MD– The Saint Peter's softball team swept the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 7-3 and 7-6, in a midweek doubleheader matchup at Hawk Stadium Wednesday afternoon.
Ava White (1-2) secured her first win of the season in the circle, tossing a complete game and allowing just three runs on seven hits while striking out a season-high five batters.
Olivia Christopher and
Kiana Kadena Matsuda paced the Peacocks offensively, both going 2-for-4. Christopher added two stolen bases to her line, while Kadena Matsuda recorded a double and drove in a pair of RBIs.
The Peacocks combined for eight hits in the contest, while
Carlee Charles smashed the team's first triple of the season, adding another RBI to her stat line.
In game two,
Gabriella Rivera (1-1) earned her first collegiate win in relief, pitching 5.0 innings and allowing just one run on three hits while striking out a season-high and game-high four batters.
Offensively, Saint Peter's combined for eight hits and seven RBIs, with Kadena Matsuda pacing the team by going 2-for-2 with a pair of RBIs.
GAME ONE
Saint Peter's got on the board in the second inning with a seven-run frame. Two Hawks errors, a pair of walks, and a groundout gave the Peacocks a 2-0 lead with one out. A double steal by
Olivia Christopher and
Paige Seemon put runners in scoring position, and a single by
Hannah Klotz, followed by a double from
Kiana Kadena Matsuda, extended the lead to 5-0.
Carlee Charles then ripped a bases-clearing triple and later came around to score on another Hawk error, giving Saint Peter's an early 7-0 advantage.
UMES responded in the bottom half of the inning with a double, a single, a stolen base, and two groundouts to cut the deficit to 7-2. The score would remain the same until the sixth inning, when the Hawks added another run on back-to-back doubles.
UMES threatened in the bottom of the seventh with a single and a bunt, but a putout from
Steph Bendzlowicz to Kadena Matsuda, a groundout, and an
Ava White strikeout sealed the 7-3 win for the Peacocks.
GAME TWO
UMES opened game two with a solo home run, and a walk followed by a pair of singles, giving the Hawks a 2-0 lead.
Saint Peter's answered in the third inning when
Bendzlowicz opened the frame with a double down the left field line.
Danni Forrester then singled to left, bringing Bendzlowicz home to cut the deficit to 2-1.
UMES added two insurance runs in the bottom half of the inning. A trio of walks loaded the bases, and a sacrifice fly and single drove in the runners to put the Hawks up 5-1.
The Peacocks chipped away in the fifth inning behind singles from Klotz and
Kadena Matsuda, a Hawks error, and a sacrifice fly from Charles to make it 5-3.
Saint Peter's then erupted for three runs in the sixth to take its first lead of the game. With two outs, back-to-back hits from Seemon and Christopher, along with a Klotz walk, loaded the bases. Another walk from Kadena Matsuda brought home Seemon, and a Charles single drove in Christopher and Klotz to give the Peacocks a 6-5 advantage.
Another solo home run by the Hawks in the seventh tied the game and sent Saint Peter's into extra innings for the first time this season.
In the eighth, Seemon laid down a bunt to move Forrester to third, and Christopher lifted a sacrifice fly to give the Peacocks the lead.
UMES went down in order in the bottom half of the inning with a
Gabriella Rivera strikeout, a groundout, and a flyout, securing the victory and doubleheader sweep for Saint Peter's.
UP NEXT
The Peacocks have a few days' rest before heading back on the road to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to face the University of Pennsylvania in a three-game series at Penn Park, March 14-15. Saturday's doubleheader is set to begin at 12 p.m., with game two to follow at 2 p.m. The series concludes Sunday at noon.
For continuing coverage of Saint Peter's University Athletics, visit SaintPetersPeacocks.com and follow the Peacocks on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
