OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The Widener University softball team found its bats on Saturday afternoon, connecting on 21 hits and scoring 11 runs as the Pride split a doubleheader with the Stevenson Mustangs, falling 7-6 in the opener before rebounding to win 5-1 in the second contest.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Lindsey Cooper led Widener on the day, going 5-for-9. Carli Benzoich and Katie Sterling had three hits each while Liv Rogers, Katie Rabuck, Taylor Allen and Lauren DelRomano had two each.
• Sterling drove in three in the twinbill.
• Bella Bottini pitched 9.2 innings on the day, allowing just one earned run.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED GAME 1 (Stevenson 7, Widener 6)

• Power was on display early as with two outs in the top of the first, DelRomano and Sterling smacked back-to-back homers to give Widener a 2-0 lead.
• The Pride extended the advantage in the third as Lindsay Cooper, DelRomano, and Sterling all singled in front of Taylor Allen who was hit by a pitch to force in a run.
• Stevenson tied the game in the fourth on a three-run homer and then again in the fifth as after WU took the lead in the top of the inning on a Liv Rogers double to score Carli Benzoich, the Mustangs pushed across an unearned tally to make it 4-4.
• Widener scored single runs in the final two innings as DelRomano drove in Sydney Powell in the sixth on a fielder's choice and Jamie Gosselin singled home Bella Bottini in the seventh to put the Blue and Gold up 6-4.
• Stevenson had the final say, however, scoring three unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh to come away with the victory.
• Cooper led the 13-hit attack for Widener with three base knocks while DelRomano, Sterling, and Katie Rabuck each had two.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED GAME 2 (Widener 5, Stevenson 1)

• The Pride got off to a good start, taking advantage of Mustangs' miscues. In the second, Sterling reached on an error, followed by singles by Allen and Benzoich to load the bases before Rogers lifted a sacrifice fly to right to tally the opening run.
• Widener opened the game up in the third as Gosselin walked to lead off, followed by a singles from Cooper before DelRomano reached on an error, the latter play scoring Gosselin to make it 2-0. Sterling came up next and also singled to plate Cooper with DelRomano coming home on a throwing error by the second baseman, pushing the edge to 4-0.
• The Pride tacked on an insurance run in the seventh as a sac fly by Sterling plated Cooper who singled to lead off the frame.
• In the circle, Bella Bottini turned in her best game in a collegiate uniform, going the distance, allowing just one run and striking out four.

 
UP NEXT
Widener is back in action on Tuesday, March 20 when it travels to Cabrini for a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch from Radnor, Pa. is slated for 2:00 p.m.