Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Delaware State vs. La Salle Box | Fairleigh Dickinson vs. La Salle Box

NORFOLK, Va. – La Salle softball kicked off their 2014 season with a twin bill in day one action at the Norfolk State Spartan Clash. The Explorer bats struggled to get things going, failing to crack the scoreboard in either game. The Blue and Gold dropped the season opener to Delaware State 2-0 and dropped the nightcap against Fairleigh Dickinson 4-0.
 
The bats were held relatively silent in the season opener against Delaware State. The Explorers pushed a runner to scoring position in four of the first five innings, but were unable to ultimately bring a runner around to light up the scoreboard.
 
Junior starter Alicia Aughton held the Blue and Gold in it with excellent pitching. She held Delaware State scoreless through the first five frames, allowing three hits while striking out five.
 
The Hornets broke through in the sixth. After retiring the leadoff batter, Hornets catcher Sandy Hawthorne reached on a base-on-balls. Aughton recorded the next out on a fielder choice, but a single by Jordan Stamps put runners on the corners with two away. In the ensuing at bat, Danielle Velez drove a double over Explorer centerfielder Megan Hodgson's head, bringing around the only two runs of the game.
 
Tara Tursellino shut the Explorers down in the final two frames to record the win for the Hornets, striking out the side in the bottom of the seventh.
 
In the nightcap, the Explorers could only muster two hits, falling to Fairleigh Dickinson 4-0. Megan Reiner, starter for the Knights, had the Explorers on lock for the duration, going the distance for Fairleigh Dickinson while striking out 11. She struck out the side in three of the seven frames.
 
Mary Cate Scott held the Explorers in it, working in and out of trouble in the second in third innings. However she hit a rough spot in the fifth, as the Knights pushed across all four of their runs in the frame. After loading the bases with one out, Knights shortstop Angelique Nieves stroked a bases clearing double to snatch control of the game.
 
Senior Emily Moran and freshman Kristin Martin had hits for the Explorers, but they could not generate enough offense against the dominant Reiner.
 
The Explorers (0-2) will wrap up the two day tournament against host team Norfolk State tomorrow afternoon at 3:00pm.