Seton Hill hosted Mercyhurst in a winner take all game three in the PSAC Quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon in Greensburg.
The Griffins scored early and often as they scored runs in each of their four at bats in a 16-0 five inning victory to eliminate the Lakers from the PSAC Tournament. SHU is now 30-11 overall while the Lakers finish their season at 18-21.
A thirty minute delay while waiting on umpires to show up did not slow down the Griffins at all. Griffin starter
Lauren Dellett worked around an error on the opening batter and after putting up a zero in the top of the first inning, the Griffin offensive explosion began in the bottom half of the inning.
Allison Kapoll got it all going with a leadoff triple to the left center field gap. Three pitches later,
Jenna Osikowicz singled thru the left side of the infield to give SHU an early 1-0 lead. After a Dellett sacrifice bunt,
Alexis Vargas launched a no doubter over the left field wall to put the Griffins in front 3-0.
Christiana Skrabak was hit by a pitch and moved up on a wild pitch.
Samantha Estupinian won a wild 15 pitch battle and doubled to the left center field gap as SHU took a 4-0 lead, knocking the Lakers starter out of the game.
Dellett stranded two runners in the top of the second inning and then the Griffin offense picked up right where it left off in the first inning.
Natalia Greco, Kapoll and Osikowicz all singled to load the bases with no one out. Dellett helped out her own cause with a two run double that pushed the Griffin lead to 6-0. Later in the inning, Osikowicz scored on a wild pitch and Skrabak made it 9-0 with a two run shot to left center field, chasing the second Laker pitcher.
The third inning was not much different as the Griffins struck for three runs.
Nina Grandey singled to lead off the inning. After an out, Kapoll and Osikowicz both singled to load the bases. Dellett drew a bases loaded walk to force in a run.
Morgan Toal then singled to right field scoring another run and give SHU a 11-0 lead. Osikowicz then scored on a wild pitch to make it 12-0.
Grandey continued the hitting party in the fourth inning as she led off the inning with another no doubter that put the Griffins in front 13-0. With one out, Kapoll registered her second triple of the game. She scored when Osikowicz singled. Dellett and Vargas walked to load the bases with two outs. Skrabak closed out the scoring with a two RBI hit.
Dellett won her 13th of the season with a complete game one hit shutout. She struck out four in the win. Both Kapoll and Osikowicz went 4-4 in the game. Kapoll tripled twice. Skrabak and Grandey each added two hits. Skrabak drove in four with Dellett adding three RBI. Osikowicz and Vargas each knocked in two.
The Griffins advance to the PSAC Semifinals where they will host second seed from the west Gannon. The best of three series is set to begin on Sunday afternoon at 1 PM. Game two will be played following game one and the if necessary game three will be played on Monday at 1 PM.
