QU Softball Sweeps Doubleheader Against UMass Lowell and Florida A&M

Saturday, March 19

9:30 AM

Quinnipiac University

7-11

University of Massachusetts Lowell

4-17

Quinnipiac

UMass Lowell

QU Softball Sweeps Doubleheader Against UMass Lowell and Florida A&M

3/19/2016 7:44:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Miranda Magana Finished the Day 4-for-6 With Three RBIs

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Quinnipiac softball team swept a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon by taking the lead in the final inning of both games. Despite a four hour rain delay, the Bobcats defeated UMass Lowell, 5-3 before taking down Florida A&M, 3-2 at the USF Spring Break Tournament.

GAME 1

In the first game against UMass Lowell, eight different Bobcats combined to produce 13 hits. Seniors Sydney Robey (Glenmoore, Pennsylvania) and Dani Edmands (Northborough. Massachusetts) and sophomores Emily Czaja (Palmer, Massachusetts and Miranda Magana (Santa Paula, California) each recorded multi-hit games. Robey went 3-for-4 with an RBI double and Edmands finished with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate. Czaja and Magana both went 2-for-3 while
Czaja scored two runs and Magana tallied three RBIs.

Three pitchers combined efforts to hold the River Hawks to just two runs over seven innings. Robey got the start and allowed two runs on two hits while striking out three batters. Freshman Kendall Brundrett (San Diego, California) took the mound in relief and recorded her first win as a Bobcat. The freshman gave up just one hit over three innings. Sophomore Casey Herzog (Wappingers Falls, New York) closed out the game and picked up a save after holding off UML in the final inning.

Quinnipiac got their offense going early, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Freshman Sarah Heimbach (Greenwich, New York) led off with a walk and advanced to second on a base hit to right field by Czaja. Czaja then reached second as Heimbach was caught stealing by the River Hawks' catcher. With two outs, Robey scored the game's first run with an RBI double down the right field line.

In the bottom of the inning, the first three UMass Lowell batters reached base to load the bases with no outs. Robey then struck out the next River Hawk, but a hit batter forced the tying run to score. UML then took a 2-1 lead with their first hit of the game before Robey was able to get the last two outs of the frame.

The Bobcats threatened to score in the second, but stranded two runners in scoring position. With two outs, Herzog singled up the middle. Freshman Taylor Troyan (Boca Raton, Florida) then pushed Herzog to third with a double to right field. The River Hawks were able to get out of the jam with a ground ball out to shortstop to end the inning.

UMass Lowell extended their lead to 3-1 with an unearned run in the second. Back-to-back singles put runners on first and second for the River Hawks before a Bobcat error loaded the bases. The next batter grounded into a fielder's choice to give UML a two-run advantage.

Quinnipiac answered with a run in the third to cut the deficit to 3-2. Czaja and Edmands got things started with consecutive hits to begin the inning. A Robey fly ball advanced Czaja to third base before she was sent home on a sacrifice fly by Magana.

After four and a half innings, a weather delay paused the game for four hours with the Bobcats trailing 3-2.

Both teams were held scoreless coming out of the break until Quinnipiac rallied in their last at bats. With one out, Edmands reached second after beating out a ground ball and advancing on an overthrow. Robey then stepped up and recorded her third hit of the day on a blooper to the outfield. The Bobcats took the lead off their third consecutive hit when Magana drove in two runs with a triple. Junior Keilani Finley (Alameda, California) extended the lead to 5-3 with an RBI single through the right side of the infield.

Herzog closed out the River Hawks in the last inning to seal the comeback win.

GAME 2

Against the Rattlers, both Magana and senior Abby Johnson (Chelmsford, Massachusetts) registered multi-hit games. Magana went 2-for-3 while the senior finished 2-for-4 in the game. After picking up the save in the first game, Herzog took the mound for the second. The sophomore allowed just five hits over seven innings pitched while recording her fourth win of the year.

In the top of the first, Johnson hit a single and advanced to third after an error and walk loaded the bases. The Rattlers were able to get themselves out of the jam unscathed while Quinnipiac left three runners on base.

The Bobcats captured a 2-0 lead in the second inning off three errors by the Florida A&M infielders. With two runners in scoring position, Heimbach reached first on the third error of the inning and both Bobcats came around to cross the plate.

In the third, the Rattlers answered with their first run to cut the lead to 2-1. Quinnipiac was able to limit the damage in the inning, recording the third out with the bases loaded.

Herzog stuck out the side in the fourth inning, but Florida A&M scored a run to tie the game at 2-2.

After two scoreless innings by each side, the Bobcats captured the lead in the seventh inning for the second consecutive game. Heimbach hit a single up the middle and advanced to second when Johnson beat out an infield ground ball. Troyan then laid down a sacrifice bunt to push both runners into scoring position. Quinnipiac took a 3-2 lead when Robey hit a sacrifice fly to score Heimbach.

The Rattlers had a runner reach second in the bottom of the seventh, but were unable to score against the Bobcats' defense.

The Bobcats will wrap up their spring break trip in Florida with one final game on Sunday, Mar. 20. Quinnipiac will face off against Rutgers University at 9 a.m. in Clearwater.