(Carlisle, Pa.) – The Dickinson softball team swept a non-conference double-header with visiting Juniata College on Tuesday night at Dickinson Park. The Red Devils used a big second inning to claim the opener, 7-4 and scored in the bottom of the seventh to win a wild nightcap, 9-8.
In game one, the Eagles pushed across three runs in the top of the first behind a two-RBI single from pitcher Jennifer Carthew. Paige Dennison added a run in the second with a solo homer to center field.
The Red Devils took the lead in the bottom of the second, scoring six runs with two outs on the board. Three straight singles and a base-clearing triple from junior Nicole Torlincasi (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) cut the deficit to one.
Torlincasi came in to score on a wild pitch as Michelle Orden (Hillsdale, N.J./Pascack Valley) reached on a walk. Senior Nicole Piet (Robbinsville, N.J./Robbinsville) launched a double to the wall in left center, scoring Orden from first to put Dickinson on top. Classmate Grace Edelson (Basking Ridge, N.J./Villa Walsh) kept the rally alive, driving in Piet to give the Devils a 6-4 lead.
Torlincasi added an insurance run, sending a solo shot over the left field wall in the sixth inning. The Devils held strong on defense to close out the game with a 7-4 win.
Torlincasi went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. First-year Marissa Ruschil (Katonah, N.Y./St. Luke's, Conn.) went 2-for-2 with a double and a triple. Nicole Clayton (Chadds Ford, Pa./Unionville) went 2-for-3 in the opener.
First-year Killian Kueny (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) came on in relief to earn the win.
Torlincasi singled to lead-off the Red Devils in the bottom of the first. She stole second and came all the way around to score on an error. Orden drew a walk, stole second and scored on a single from Edelson and Clayton put the Devils up 4-0, driving in two more runs with a shallow base-hit to left field.
Jessica Epstein (Madison, N.J./Madison) drove in a run in the bottom of the third and Torlincasi drew a bases loaded walk to stretch the margin to 6-0.
The Eagles capitalized on an error to score two runs in the top of the fifth. They rallied to tie the game in the sixth inning, adding four more unearned runs. A two out error led to loaded bases and Paige Dennison drove in three with a double to right center. Another error allowed Dennison to come across, knotting the game, 6-6.
Dickinson answered with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth. Piet walked and stole second, and eventually scored as Casey Ditzler (Cleona, Pa./Annville-Cleona) hit a ball down the left field line that led to an error allowed the run. Clayton singled to left to score Ditzler, putting the Red Devils back on top, 8-6.
Holly Bettinger singled to lead-off the seventh for Juniata. After the Devils recorded two outs, a walk and stolen base led to a two-RBI single from Alicia Regnault to tie the game again, 8-8.
Sophomore Alicia Lane (Bolton, Mass./Garaway) pinch-hit in the bottom of seventh and ripped a single up the middle. A fielder's choice put Torlincasi on first base, setting the stage for a walk-off RBI single from Piet to lead the Red Devils to the sweep.
Clayton had another strong performance, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs in the nightcap. Kueny came on in relief once again to claim the win. Madison Milaszewski (Rutland, Mass./Sutton) recorded four strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work.
The Red Devils improved to 9-19 overall on the night. They are in action again on Thursday, traveling to Frostburg State University for a 3:00 pm start.
