PHILADELPHIA – The USciences softball team broke out for 30 runs on 32 hits, batting .525 on the day as the Devils swept Lincoln, 18-0 and 13-5, in their home-opener at UYA Field in FDR Park on Sunday afternoon.
The victories were the first two for first-year Head Coach Erin Hollyfield.
Danielle Jones (6-for-7), Abbigail Markee (6-for-8) and Miranda Rodriguez (5-for-7) all had multiple hits in both games.
Jones drove in nine runs with two home runs and two doubles, while Markee and Rodriguez each scored three runs with multiple RBI.
Game One
University of the Sciences' 19 hits were the second most in the program's recorded program history (since 2010).
Five different Devils (Gabrielle Simms, Markee, Gabriella Polera, Jones and Rodriguez) either tied or set a new career-high with three hits, while Taylor Hamm and Nina Cencetti both added two.
Jones hit her first two career home runs as part of a career-high six-RBI performance.
Markee also set a new career-best in RBI with four, while Polera drove in three.
Simms tripled twice and scored four runs.
Starting pitcher Megan Master went the distance for her career first complete game shutout, allowing just four hits while striking out two with zero walks.
Game Two
Trailing 3-0, University of the Sciences finally broke out with a seven-run fourth.
The inning featured 13 batters and six hits, two of which were by Markee. Ashley Steiner and Hamm also reached twice in the frame.
Markee led off with a double before Steiner followed with a triple and back-to-back walks by Hamm and Polera loaded the bases for Jones, who tied the score with a two-RBI single.
Rodriguez followed with an infield single that put USciences ahead for good, and the Devils would score three more runs including on a Hamm bases-loaded walk.
Jones went a perfect 3-for-3 with two doubles and two more RBI while Markee had three hits too, finishing 3-for-5 with a double and run scored.
Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBI and a walk, while Steiner also reached base three times via two base on balls and a triple.
Simms and Polera both scored twice.
Simms ended the day fifth in program history with 75 career runs, tied for eighth with eight triples and 10th all-time with 120 hits.
Paige Schlechter earned her first win of the year after throwing first four frames, before Olivia Quercia came on for the final three to pick up her first career save.
The freshman gave up just one earned on two hits in her three innings of relief, striking out three with zero walks.
Up Next
University of the Sciences opens up its Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) schedule on Wednesday, hosting Goldey-Beacom for a doubleheader at 2 p.m.
