Patricia Zyzyk

Lady Bears Look To Take The Sting Out Of Delaware State Hornets This Weekend

4/14/2018 9:26:00 AM

By: Kevin C. Paige, MSU Athletic Communications

BALTIMORE, Md. (April 13, 2018)-Fresh off of their first-ever victories over local foe Towson, by sweeping the high-powered Tigers in a doubleheader on Wednesday, the Morgan State softball team returns to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) action this weekend when it welcomes the Delaware State Hornets for a crucial three-game series at Lois T. Murray Field.

The series will be for sole position of first-place in the MEAC Northern Division, as both Morgan State and Delaware State are tied in the division standings with 7-2 marks. The Lady Bears and Hornets will get things underway with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 14 at 1 p.m. and will wrap up the weekend with a single game on Sunday at noon.

Morgan State (18-13, 7-2 MEAC) enters the weekend series riding a season-long eight-game winning streak, following the 3-1 and 11-5 (8 innings) victories at Towson. The Lady Bears scored 14 runs on 18 hits and had no errors in the two games, while Towson scored a combined six times on 16 hits and committed a total of seven errors.

Lady Bear pitchers Stephanie Rundlett (8-6) and Amy Begg (10-6) each recorded complete game victories and held the Tigers, who ranked fourth in the nation in batting average (.355) and sixth in scoring (6.79) in check. Rundlett would record a game-high seven strikeouts in the Game 1 victory, while Begg tossed four strikeouts in Game 2.

Offensively, the Lady Bears were led by Damali Young, Mikaela Browdy and Haylee Bobos, who all recorded three hits. Giselle Alvarez, Gabriella Gorosave and Stormy Zyzyk all tallied 2RBI.

"They were definitely special wins after playing them over and over again for four years," said Begg. "To finally get the wins was awesome.

"Before the Towson games we talked about how we can use those games as mental and physical preparation for Delaware State because they're important games. To get the wins, I think it's going to light a fire for us this weekend and I know everyone is really excited to play these games now, because I think we can come out with a sweep."
The Lady Bears have won their last three series during their winning streak and return to Lois T. Murray Field where they are 6-4 this season. Morgan State split its last outing at home, defeating the University of Missouri-Kansas City 9-8 in eight innings, before falling to the Kangaroos 7-6 in the nightcap.

Morgan State has been paced by Young, who is averaging .423 with 47 hits, 34 runs, 11 doubles and 16 steals, all team highs. Alvarez is batting .362 and has totaled 31 runs, 34 hits, eight doubles, 13 walks and a team-leading three triples. Young and Alvarez lead the team with three homeruns apiece.

Begg carries an ERA of 2.71 and has 83 strikeouts in 108.1 innings of work. She has started 17 of her 22 games appearances and has pitched 10 complete games with four shutout victories and a save.

Rundlett has appeared in 19 games with 14 starts and has five complete games to go with two saves. Rundlett ranks second on the team in strikeouts (75) and innings pitched (90.2).

Delaware State (9-23, 7-2 MEAC) began the season dropping its first 13 games and enters the weekend on a four-game losing skid. In their last outing, the Hornets lost their doubleheader series at the University of Delaware by a score of 2-1 and 10-5, respectively.

The Hornets have been led by Desiree Moreno, who has started all 32 games played and is batting .423 with 41 hits, seven homeruns and 12 walks, all team highs, while adding 21RBI and 21 runs. Khali Flournory has also started all 32 games and is batting .362 with a team-leading 24 runs and nine doubles to go with 38 hits, 15RBI and eight walks.

Pitcher Hannah Shields enters with an ERA of 5.26 and is 4-9 on the season with a shutout victory and a save. Shields has totaled 43 strikeouts, while pitching 101 innings and allowing 77 runs on 131 hits and has walked 39.

Last year the Lady Bears won the series over Delaware State, taking two of the three meetings in Dover, Del. The Game 1 victory marked just the sixth time Morgan State defeated Delaware State in 45 meetings dating back to 2004.

"The Towson wins were really special because I think they were the icing on the cake that we needed to prove to ourselves that we had that ability to win the MEAC," said Begg. "I think that Towson is better than any of the teams in the MEAC. So, if we can beat Towson, then we can definitely win the MEAC."

Print Friendly Version