DeLand, Fla. - Senior third baseman Jill Semento (Umatilla, Fla.) hit her team-leading seventh home run of the season and sophomore Courtney Gunby (Bishop, Ga.) pitched a complete game victory as Stetson defeated visiting Lipscomb 6-1 in the first game of Saturday's Atlantic Sun Conference softball doubleheader at Patricia Wilson Field. The defending A-Sun champion Lady Bisons earned a split with a 4-1 victory in game two. Sophomore catcher Jordan Cleghorn (Ball Ground, Ga.) had two extra base hits on the day as Stetson moved its record to 18-25 overall, 4-10 in the A-Sun. Lipscomb is now 23-17, 10-4 A-Sun.
Semento, along with fellow seniors Rachel Lowe (Okeechobee, Fla.), Katelyn Perna (St. Petersburg, Fla.), and Jesse Tucker (DeFuniak Springs, Fla.) were honored prior to the final home conference games of their career.
STETSON 6, LIPSCOMB 1 (GAME 1)
After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first inning, Stetson tagged 2010 Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Year Whitney Kiihnl for three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Kiihnl issued a one-out walk to junior shortstop Chelsey Trotto (Lantana, Fla.), then fell behind Semento 3-1. The Hatter third baseman then drilled a two-run shot into the left field bleachers to put Stetson ahead 2-1. It was Semento's 10th career home run as a Hatter, and her 18th career home run overall (eight previous HR with the University of South Carolina). Before the inning was over, Cleghorn and Lowe added back-to-back doubles to put Stetson ahead 3-1.
The Hatters added three runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth inning, and also benefited from four illegal pitches called against Lady Bisons pitchers in the inning. Freshman center fielder Chrissy Morello (Ormond Beach, Fla.) registered an RBI single, one of her two hits in the game. That was more than enough offense for Gunby (3-7), who scattered five hits and allowed just one run en route to her first complete game of the year. Kiihnl (16-9) allowed six earned runs in 3.1 innings while striking our six.
LIPSCOMB 4, STETSON 1 (GAME 2)
Lipscomb's Ali Watson (5-3) held Stetson to just one run on two hits en route to the complete game victory. Breanna Thurman's two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning snapped a 1-1 tie. Stetson's lone run came in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs and Semento on first, Cleghorn hit a line drive on which the center fielder attempted to make a diving catch, but the ball landed safely and skipped all the way to the fence, allowing Cleghorn to motor into third with an RBI triple. Freshman pitcher Meredith Owen(Jackson, Miss.) suffered the loss for Stetson despite six strikeouts in five innings of work.
The Hatters will host Florida A&M in a non-conference doubleheader Wednesday at 4 p.m. to wrap up its home slate for 2011 at Patricia Wilson Field. Hatter Vision and Live Stats will be available at GoHatters.com.
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