DeLand, Fla. - Senior outfielder Rachel Lowe (Okeechobee, Fla.) went four for eight with a home run and three RBI on the day as the Stetson softball team (4-4) split two games in its Hatter Invitational at Patricia Wilson Field on Saturday. Stetson lost a heartbreaker to undefeated Kansas 11-8 in eight innings before bouncing back to blast South Dakota State 9-0 in the nightcap.
KANSAS 11, STETSON 8 (8 INNINGS)
The Hatters got off the mat twice against Kansas, rallying from deficits of 4-0 and 6-4 to take an 8-6 lead into the fifth inning before the Jayhawks came from behind to swipe the victory. Maggie Hull's first inning three-run homer made it 4-0 KU before Stetson came to bat, but a two-run single from senior first baseman Katelyn Perna (St. Petersburg, Fla.) in the bottom of the first and Lowe's two-run homer in the bottom of the second brought the Hatters level at 4-4.
An RBI groundout and RBI single made it 6-4 in favor of Kansas (9-0) after two and a half, but Stetson struck for three runs in the home half of the third. A Jayhawk error with two outs allowed the two tying runs to score, followed by Lowe connecting on an RBI single bringing in sophomore second baseman Alyssa Oddo (Covina, Calif.) with the go-ahead run.
The score stood at 8-6 in the top of the fifth after a Jill Semento (Umatilla, Fla.) RBI single gave Stetson an insurance run in the fourth, but Hull and shortstop Alex Newman delivered back-to-back RBI doubles and singles, respectively, to lock up the score at eight apiece.
Kansas relief pitcher Allie Clark would lock down the Hatters offensively the rest of the game, setting the stage for catcher Brittany Hile to blast a two-run homer in the top of the eighth that would prove the game-winner. Stetson loaded the bases with two out in the bottom of the eighth but could not get any runs across.
Perna finished three for four while junior shortstop Chelsey Trotto (Lantana, Fla.) joined Lowe in the two-hit category. Hull had five RBI for the Jayhawks while her twin sister Rosie went three for four with a double and two runs scored. Sophomore pitcher Courtney Gunby (Bishop, Ga.) struck out four in taking the loss for Stetson in relief.
STETSON 9, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 0
Freshman Meredith Owen (Jackson, Miss.) made her first career victory a complete game shutout, blanking the Jackrabbits on six hits and striking out a career-high six batters in seven innings. Every Stetson batter got at least one base hit with Lowe, Trotto and sophomore catcher Jordan Cleghorn (Ball Ground, Ga.) getting two; Cleghorn, Semento, freshman center fielder Chrissy Morello (Ormond Beach, Fla.) and sophomore designated player Chelsea Whalley (Calgary, Alta.) drove in two runs each for the Hatters.
Stetson scored three runs in the top of the first and two more in the second to put matters out of reach early. Cleghorn had a two-run single in the first inning and Morello did likewise in the seventh to bookend the game. Trotto stole two bases and Whalley swiped her first bag of the season as well.
Stetson will face Kansas at 12 p.m. tomorrow in the championship game of the Hatter Invitational. The consolation game will feature Bethune-Cookman vs. South Dakota State at 10 a.m.; those two put on an epic slugfest this afternoon with the Wildcats beating the Jackrabbits 13-12 on a walk-off two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Live Stats will be available for both games with Hatter Vision for the Stetson-Kansas contest at GoHatters.com.
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