Orlando, Fla. - Junior third baseman Jill Semento (Umatilla, Fla.) went two for three with three RBI and two runs scored to lead the Stetson softball team (2-2) to a 7-1 victory at local rival UCF (1-3) Wednesday evening. Senior pitcher Amanda Lindsey (Byhalia, Miss.), the current Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Week, allowed just two hits all game and struck out eight Knights.
Wednesday's win snapped a four-game losing streak in the series against UCF dating back to 2007, which entered the game receiving votes in this week's NFCA coaches poll.
Semento got the scoring started for the Hatters with a one-out RBI double to right center field in the top of the third, scoring senior center fielder Amy Joyce (Lake Mary, Fla.), who had reached on a leadoff walk. Semento would score herself later in the inning when Lindsey ripped an RBI single back up the middle against UCF hurler Kristina DeMello.
UCF got a run back in the home half of the third when shortstop Tiffany Lane belted a triple off the center field wall with two outs that scored left fielder Morgan Bullard from first base; however, that was as close as the Knights would come all evening.
The Hatters salted the game away with a five-run explosion in the top of the seventh; all the runs scored before Stetson made an out. A leadoff walk and back to back infield singles from sophomore right fielder Brittany Knipp (Land O'Lakes, Fla.) and Joyce loaded the bases with nobody out. DeMello's fourth pitch to sophomore shortstop Chelsey Trotto (Lantana, Fla.) nicked her on the arm to bring in an insurance run. Semento followed with a two-run single to left center that made it 5-1 and opened the floodgates. Freshman second baseman Jordan Cleghorn (Ball Ground, Ga.) slashed an opposite field single down the right field line to plate two more runners and give Stetson its final margin of victory.
After the triple, Lindsey gave up just one more hit, a single with two out in the seventh. She struck out eight and walked two to improve to 2-1 on the season. DeMello went six innings-plus, allowing seven runs on six hits and five walks, striking out seven. Joyce scored two runs while Knipp had two base hits on the evening.
Stetson returns home to host the Hatter Invitational this weekend; the star-studded field includes #8/9 Alabama and #14/14 Ohio State in addition to Rhode Island and the Hatters. Jamie Bataille calls all the balls and strikes on Hatter Vision with Live Stats also available at www.GoHatters.com. Stetson takes on Rhode Island at 4 p.m. Friday to begin the tournament with a game against the OSU Buckeyes immediately following.
