The Stetson softball team increased its current win streak
to six games with a pair of victories over Valparaiso and Fairleigh Dickinson
on Saturday in the Stetson Classic at Patricia Wilson Field.
The Hatters defeated the Crusaders 4-3 in their first game
of the day, and topped the Knights 5-2 in the final game of the evening to
improve to 12-6 on the year.
Stetson scored all four of its game one runs in the fourth
inning. After freshman Kayla Drury
singled to left and freshman Brittany Hawn reached base on a fielder's choice, junior
Chrissy Morello and freshman Jessica Griffin walked to load the bases. Junior Meredith Owen then hit a grand slam
over the left field wall to give the Hatters a 4-0 lead.
Valparaiso scored two runs in the sixth and one in the
seventh, before three straight outs ended the game and gave Stetson the 4-3
victory.
Owen also picked up her ninth win of the season in the
circle, giving up just one earned run, while striking out six batters and
walking none.
In game two, it was again the fourth inning when Stetson did
the majority of its damage. The Hatters
took a 3-0 lead when senior Chelsea Whalley's three-run homer to center field
drove in Griffin and Owen, who walked and doubled, respectively.
Fairleigh Dickinson countered with one run in the fifth,
before Stetson scored in the sixth and the seventh to take a 5-1 lead. Owen
drove in Morello with a double in the sixth, and Morello drove in senior Jordan
Cleghorn on a fielder's choice to give the Hatters the healthy advantage.
The Knights hit a solo home run to lead off the seventh to
make the final score 5-2 in favor of the Hatters.
Sophomore Courtney Brandt picked up the win in the circle
for the Hatters, allowing one run on two hits in five innings. She struck out seven batters and walked none
to earn her third win of the season. Owen picked up her second save.
FDU and Valpo both defeated Colgate on Saturday.
