March 22, 2009

Game One|Game Two

Garden City, N.Y. - The Adelphi University softball team swept visting Saint Anselm, 2-1 and 9-3 this afternoon at Janet L. Ficke Field. The Panthers improve to 10-4 overall while the Hawks drop to 8-8.

The Panthers were led offensively by Stephanie Byster who combined for a 3-for-4 effort with a double, two runs scored and two runs batted in.

Game One
The Panthers struck first scoring in the bottom of the second inning. A error by secondbase put senior Kristin Brennan on base as she advanced to second on a Byster single. A RBI single by senior Christina O'Hara drove in Brennan to put Adelphi up, 1-0. The Hawks evened the score in the fourth inning on an RBI double by Morgan Murphy. The trio of Brennan, Byster and O'Hara teamed up in the eighth inning to break the tie. In almost identical fashion to the first inning, Brennan reached on an error then advanced to third on a hit by Byster. With runners on first and second and one strike on the batter, Brennan took off for home and scored on a perfect squeeze bunt by O'Hara.

Sophomore Leighann Bell recorded the win, pitching 4.0 innings in relief, giving up two hits while fanning five.

Adelphi had two runs on eight hits with no errors. Saint Anslem had one run on five hits with four errors.

Game Two
Adelph jumped out to an early lead, scoring two runners on a Byster double before senior Diana DiPiano blasted a two run homer to right center to make it a 4-0 game. Saint Anslem tried to close the gap in the fifth inning with Liz LeBrun hitting a solo homerun, followed by Brittany Birch scoring on an illegal pitch. They followed up with a RBI single by Megan Lemire in the sixth inning, 4-3.

The Panthers surged ahead in the bottom of the sixth as senior Samantha Johnston's two RBI triple spurred a 5-0 run. Bysters's RBI double drove in junior Rochelle Noren and Johnston, before accounting for the final run on a passed ball.

Sophomore Marisa Romeo picked up the win on the mound, tossing for 4.1 innings, allowing seven hits, two runs, two earned, one ball and one strike.

The Panthers return to action on Wednesday, March 24, as they host Southern Connecticut State. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.