Towson Upsets Delaware 4-2 in Extras During Game Six of the CAA Softball Championship
Hunter Peters
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | BOX SCORE | HIGHLIGHTS | PHOTO GALLERY
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (May 11, 2023) –
Addie Ferguson provided the heroics for the second time in three days, delivering the game-winning two-run single in the top of the eight to lift fifth-seeded Towson over top-seeded Delaware 4-2 in game six of the 2023 CAA Softball Championship from Bill Edwards Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
The Tigers (28-23), which have won three games in three days, advance to face the winner of No. 2 UNCW and No. 3 Hofstra tomorrow at noon. The Blue Hens (29-19) fall into the consolation portion of the bracket and will be back in action at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow against the winner of game eight this evening.
After an intentional walk loaded the bases in the top of the eight, Ferguson made the Blue Hens pay, taking the next pitch on a rope into centerfield to score the eventual game-winning runs. Cori Jones, who led off the inning with a double and scored on the Ferguson single, paced the Towson lineup, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, two runs scored and one RBI.
Cheyenne Beayon (5-6) recorded career highs in innings (8.0) and pitches (109), holding down the fort until Towson’s top-ranked offense in the conference was able to break through.
Emily Winburn retired the side in order with two strikeouts in the top half of the second before Delaware plated two runs in the bottom half to open the scoring. Katie Sheivert recorded a one-out single, and Chloe Blantz followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Jayla Brooks took the next pitch into the left-center gap scoring Sheivert and Blantz on the RBI double.
Towson answered immediately, scoring two in the top of the third. Elizabeth Yoskowitz reached on an infield single before swapping places with Briana Ramirez after a fielder’s choice. Ramirez swiped second for her 15th stolen base this season, and Jones doubled down the right field line to score her. With Jones on second and two outs, Madyson Peters muscled a 2-2 pitch into shallow center to pull Towson even.
Only three batters – two from Delaware and one from Towson – reached safely over the next three innings.
In the top of the seventh, Sydni Byers recorded a pinch-hit leadoff single. Ally Hickman moved Byers into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, but Winburn induced back-to-back ground outs to end the threat.
In the bottom half of the inning, Beayon recorded her first strikeout in the biggest spot, leaving the bases loaded. Sheivert drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a sac bunt. Grace Rudolph put runners on the corners with a two-out single before Hanna Garber walked to load the bases.
The leadoff double by Jones in the top of the eight was followed by a single from Mackenzie Lake to put runners on the corners with no outs. The Blue Hens intentionally walked Peters before Ferguson delivered her second game-winning hit of the tournament.
Winburn (17-9) went the distance for the Blue Hens in the circle and matched a career-high with 10 strikeouts in the effort.
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