Hutt strikes out 12 in Royals’ 8-1 softball victory
A change in the circle led to favorable results for the Delmarva Christian softball team April 18 against Ursuline Academy. Lilly Hutt, who usually pitches in relief, started the game and picked up a dozen strikeouts in the Royals’ 8-1 win over the Raiders.
“We moved some people around because we had Lilly start off pitching, which I think was a good strategy,” said senior Maggie Kwiatkowski. “We haven't had her start yet. She came out on fire and we just had to play our part in the field.”
Keeping the Raiders off the base paths through 2.2 innings, Hutt punched out five in a row before walking Katherine Alleman in the top of the third.
“With Hutt not allowing any runners – she just kept the ball in the zone, did well with her pitch choices – and then us having some good defensive plays, it stopped their offense,” said Royals coach Rachel Fetterman.
If Hutt wasn’t striking them out, the defense behind her was making plays to get them out.
“It's nice having a good pitcher out there, but you just got to be ready all the time,” Kwiatkowski said.
The offense worked the bases loaded in the top of the first and capitalized on a few Ursuline errors to plate three in the opening frame.
“We've been working on just trying to see it through the zone, shortening up our swing and making good contact,” Fetterman said.
Picking up where they left off to begin the second, Kwiatkowski tripled to score Kaelyn McGuinness before being driven home on a double off the bat of Evelyn Bohinski. Hutt lined a double to left, bringing Bohinksi home, and would score herself on a Rachel Hall single to make it 7-0.
Delmarva Christian’s Bella Marinelli scored the Royals' eighth run on a passed ball in the fifth before Ursuline’s Anna Harris' single in the top of the sixth scored Alleman for the Raiders’ lone run in the contest.
Hutt struck out three in the seventh to secure the victory. Firing 68 of her 113 pitches for strikes, the senior went the distance, striking out 12, walking two and surrendering one run on three hits.
Offensively, Hall led the team with three RBIs, while Bohinksi and McGuinness each had two hits to top all Royals. Bohinksi and Kwiatkowski led the way with two runs apiece as six different players crossed home.
