WSOU

Recap: Seton Hall Takes Three of Four Games in Retriever Round Robin

Date: February 21, 2022

By: Spencer Gonzales

A Seton Hall women's softball player stands in the batter's box waiting for a pitch.

Seton Hall Athletics

This past weekend, the Seton Hall (4-4) softball team took a trip to Baltimore to compete in the Retriever Round Robin #1 tournament. The tournament, hosted by the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), pitted the Pirates against the home team UMBC Retrievers (1-3) and the Saint Joseph’s Hawks (2-7).

Before this, the Hall’s one win of the season so far came in impressive fashion, defeating the UMass Lowell River Hawks (5-4) 12-0 in only a five-inning game. Pitcher Sydney Babik had an elite showing, throwing a nearly flawless game with five strikeouts and only one hit allowed.

To compliment the Pirates incredible defense, the bats were on fire from the get-go. Right fielder Janae Barracato was excellent, getting a hit in all three of her at bats and scoring as a baserunner each time. Unfortunately, the Pirates didn’t find the same success in their first matchup with the River Hawks or their two games against the Auburn Tigers (9-1), but they looked to the Retriever Round Robin as a way to bounce back.

In four games, the Pirates went 3-1, beating the Retrievers twice and the Hawks once. In the first matchup on Saturday, Seton Hall used their offensive might to overwhelm the UMBC bullpen and snatched the win, 13-7.

Center fielder Abby Wingo started the game off with a bang, bringing home Barracato with a triple to right field and then stealing home on a wild pitch. She finished the game with three hits and three RBIs.

Pitcher Shelby Smith picked up the win that day, pitching 4.2 innings with four strikeouts and letting up only one run. Taking the loss for the Retrievers was Pitcher Madie Leach, who gave up eight hits and six runs to the Pirates in only three innings.

Later that afternoon, the Pirates were right back at it, playing the Hawks for the first time in the tournament. Unlike last game, Seton Hall couldn’t muster anything at the plate, and were defeated 9-0.

The Pirates struggled all throughout, giving up runs in all but two of the six-inning game and committing two errors that drove in two unearned runs. St. Joseph’s Amanda Herr earned her first win of the season, tossing a shutout and netting herself a complete game.

The Hall’s Sydney Babik couldn’t replicate her last showing on the mound and let up nine runs on nine hits through a full six innings. At the end of the first day, Seton Hall was an even 1-1 in the tournament, and hoped to close out the weekend strong on Sunday.

Fast forwarding to the next day, the Pirates came back with a fiery vengeance from their previous loss and pummeled the Retrievers, 19-2. Pinch hitter and center fielder Lauren Caye showed out, smacking two home runs and four RBIs in only a pair of at-bats.

Almost all of Seton Hall’s lineup got in on the action, raking in six home runs and 19 hits in only five innings. Babik was back on the mound and recovered nicely after her last game. She pitched all five innings and had a no hitter through four, before she allowed two runs in during the fifth inning. She is now 2-1 on the season.

In the final game of the Retriever Round Robin #1, Seton Hall faced Saint Joseph’s, and with a winning record for the weekend on the line, picked up a massive victory, beating the Hawks 11-2. The Pirates offense was dangerous all weekend long, and this game was no exception.

Wasting no time, Smith started the Pirates off with a first inning grand slam, putting them up 4-0 after only four team plate appearances. In the very next inning, Baylee Allender doubled into left center field, tacking on another two runs.

In the following at-bat, Smith went the distance yet again, bringing home Allender to extend their lead to eight. Smith had an efficient showing on the mound as well, giving only three hits and two runs through five innings. She is now back at .500, posting a 2-2 record on the season.

Through eight games, Seton Hall is now 4-4. Leading the team in batting is Barracato, who is averaging an astonishing .538 average with 14 hits and 12 runs. The majority of the starting lineup has been exceptional when hitting, with six players hitting at or above .300.

On the pitching side of things, Babik has shown that she has what it takes to be an ace for the Pirates. Through 20 innings, she’s only given up a .228 batting average and 18 hits, with only two going for home runs.

Though play on both ends has been shaky, the Pirates have the talent to be a successful and effective squad going forward this season. Next up, Seton Hall treks to sunny Stockton, Calif. for the Libby Matson Tournament, where they will battle Nevada, Pacific, and Idaho State on March 4-6.

Spencer Gonzales can be reached at spencer.gonzales@student.shu.edu.

Posted in: Sports, Women's Softball, WSOU

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