March 26, 2010

Game One|Game Two

Old Westbury, N.Y. - The Adelphi University softball team hosted the New York Institute of Technology this afternoon. The Panthers heavy bats led the surge in the first game winning, 14-5 in six innings, before falling, 1-0, in a pitchers' duel in game two. Adelphi improves their record to 7-7 on the season, while the Bears go to 7-10 overall.

Game One
Adelphi's bats were contagious as they went deep three times, tallying 14 hits in the 14-5 route over NYIT.

Junior Shay Craig blasted a grand slam to right center-field in the bottom of the second inning, reclaiming the Panthers' lead, 5-3 and they never looked back. NYIT sophomore starting pitcher, Jamie Brooker walked senior Christine Robinson and junior Deirdre White. Following a fielder's choice by senior Katie Brophy, on a two-two count, Craig took Brooker's delivery and smashed the ball for a home run.

Craig finished game one going 1-for-4 with 4 RBI's.

The Bears took advantage of a defensive Adelphi miscue in the top of the fifth inning as they crossed the plate twice. Junior Brigette Kirschmer RBI single scored senior Anna Hernandez to make the game a 7-4 affair. Their next batter, junior Nicole Constantatos ripped a RBI double to left scoring Kirschmer from first, cutting the Adelphi lead's to, 7-5.

Adelphi immediately answered back in the home half of the fifth, as sophomore Jacqueline Grant bombed a shot to right center widening the Panthers' margin, 8-5. With the bases full of Panthers, freshman Amanda Dolan roped a single up the middle scoring freshman Jeanine Leo and Noren, extending Adelphi's lead to 10-5.

Junior Deandra Leo joined the party as she concluded Adelphi's fifth inning with a two-run RBI scoring Dolan along with senior Katie Brophy, putting Adelphi up 12-5.

Leo hit a two-run rocket to left center-field ending the game, 14-5. The contest was called after six innings due to the eight-run rule.

Robinson picked up the victory in game one going the distance as Brooker took the loss for the Bears allowing six runs in two innings pitched.

Game Two
Senior Brooklyn Fields hit the game-winning solo homerun to left field in the top of the fourth, as the Bears defeated the Panthers, 1-0, in a pitchers' duel.

Brooker, who took the loss in game one, pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing five hits, striking out six Adelphi batters, while her counterpart junior Leighann Bell went the distance allowing one run on three hits, striking out seven.

Adelphi's best opportunity to tie the game was in the bottom of the fourth. Grant started the inning off with a single and was pinch-ran for by senior Ashley Vinti. With one out and runners at the corners, the Panthers went for a double steal.

Brooker delivered the ball home to senior catcher Lisa Boystak. She faked a throw to second, saw Vinti leaning off of third, and she made a heads up throw to Fields who applied the tag on Vinti for the second out. The Bears escaped the jam allowing zero runs getting junior Maria Canino to strike out for the third out.

The Bears had a chance to extend their margin, in the top of the sixth, however senior Anna Hernandez was tagged out trying to steal home. Hernandez led-off the inning with a triple. NYIT went for a suicide squeeze attempt, however Bell induced Fields to miss the bunt, and Hernandez running on the play was tagged out by Bell.

The Panthers had a runner on third both in the top of the third and fifth innings, but were unsuccessful in getting their teammate to cross the plate.

Adelphi will open Northeast-10 conference play when they host Franklin Pierce University at 12:00 p.m. in doubleheader action. The games will be played at Hofstra University..