BOXSCORE - Game One
BOXSCORE - Game Two

JESSUP, PA - The University of Scranton Royals' softball team topped the visiting Hunter College Hawks, 8-3 in game one and then 12-4 in the nightcap in the final games of the regular season at Jessup Sports Complex on Monday evening.

Five Hawks finished with a hit apiece while senior catcher Arielle Zieff went 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs to lead Hunter offensively.

Amanda Annicaro (4-7) suffered the loss in 3.2 innings of work after allowing eight runs on 10 hits. Lauren Stensland entered in relief and threw 2.1 scoreless innings, limiting the Royals to just one hit in the span.

The Hawks found themselves in front early (1-0) thanks to a RBI single from Molly Meehand which scored Crissette Maxwell who had roped a single to left center to get on board with one away.

It was shortlived though as the Royals plated two runs in the home half to move ahead, 2-1.

After an inning and a half of scoreless ball, Scranton got back on the board, adding two runs in the third before widening the gap with a four-run fourth inning to make it a 8-1 ballgame.

Hunter struck back, late though, as the Hawks tallied two runs in the top of the seventh when Josephine Estevez singled and Zieff crushed a two-run homer--her first of the season, to leftfield to make it a 8-3 ballgame.

Despite leading, 2-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, Hunter allowed the Royals to rattle off 11 runs, only two of which Hunter answered as the Hawks went on to drop game two, 12-4.

Josephine Estevez finished with two hits and a RBI to guide the Hawks while Briana kresback also had two hits and scored a run. Freshman Meghan O'Shea notched a RBI single in the loss.

Scranton got on board in the second inning with a run but Hunter returned the favor in the third, as KayTee Bauer managed to score on a Royal error, tying the game at 1-1.

Hunter claimed the lead in the fourth inning as Estevez blasted her fourth homer of the season to put the Hawks in front, 2-1.

The Royals were relentless however, scoring two runs in the home half of the fourth, to push ahead, 3-2.

The back and forth affair continued in the fifth frame as Hunter put together a two-out rally, immediately taking advantage of a fielding error by the  Royals which enabled Molly Meehan to reach base safely while Kresback scored from third, having reached on a single to get on base. O'Shea then belted a RBI single to right center to plate Meehan, putting the Hawks up, 4-3.

Much to the Hawks dismay, Scranton tallied eight runs in the bottom of the frame, and then added another run in the sixth to account for the 12-4 decision.

Angel Iacovetti (9-12) suffered the loss after working five frames and allowing 11 runs on as many hits while striking out six. Annicaro tossed a third of an inning and gave up a run on three hits.

The Hawks will look ahead to the CUNYAC/Applebee's Championships slated to start on Friday, April 4. Hunter will take on the winner of #3 Baruch/#6 John Jay at 2pm at CSI.