April 3, 2010

Game One|Game Two

Jamaica, N.Y. - The Adelphi University softball team hosted Southern Connecticut State University on Saturday, April 3rd at St. John's University. After letting the lead slip away late in game one falling, 12-6 in eight innings, the Panthers scored eight-runs in the second game winning 14-6 in five innings salvaging the split. The Owls are now 16-9, 4-3 in Northeast-10 play, while the Panthers go to 11-12, 3-4 in league action.

Statistical, the Panthers were led by senior Ashley Vinti who went 4-for7 with four runs scored, a double, two homeruns and 9 RBI.

Game One
Trailing 6-2 in the top of the seventh, Southern Connecticut State plated four runs in the seventh and six more in the eighth to take game one, 12-6, in a back-and-forth affair.

Julianne Flood's RBI double to right-center scored pinch-runner Robin Priest to reclaim the Owls lead, 7-6, in the top of the eighth. SCSU extended their lead to 10-6 on consecutive RBI singles. One batter later Alyssa Pagano hit a monster shot to straight away center for a two-run home run putting the game out of reach.

Pagano led the Owls batting 4-for-5 with 3 RBI's in game one while senior Katie Brophy went for 2-for-4 to lead the Panthers.

SCSU was ahead 1-0 on a Brittany Bucko's RBI single. However, freshman Amanda Dolan belted the ball to left for a solo-shot at 1-1 for the lone Adelphi run in the fourth.

Pinch-hitter Paige Rhodes RBI single in the bottom of sixth scored senior Christine Robinson as she tied game at 2-2. Vinti smacked the first of her two home runs on the afternoon, turning on Owls' hurler Jayme Larson's pitch, to deep left-field for a grand slam putting Adelphi in front 6-2.

Five consecutive SCSU batters reached base in the top of the seventh before an out was recorded. With two-outs and runners on second and third, Kerry Iacomini delivered a two-run RBI single bringing home Bucko and Flood knotting the contest at 6-6. Bucko's RBI single trimmed Adelphi's lead to 6-3. Senior Leighann Bell, who relieved Adelphi starting pitcher, Robinson, one batter earlier, got the next two Owls out. Megan Caporossi RBI ground-out cut the Adelphi's lead to 6-4.

Iacomini picked up the victory in relief of Larson for the Owls going 2.0 innings pitched, allowing one hit, striking out two. Robinson took the loss for Adelphi pitching 6.2 innings.

Game Two
Adelphi exploded for 14-runs in their 14-6 victory in five innings in game two. The game was called after five innings because of the eight-run rule. Vinti capped off an eight-run Panthers' third, by towering a three-run home run to left field for her second shot of the afternoon.

For the Panthers, Vinti and junior Shay Craig each collected three hits a piece and collected all of the eight RBI's. Vinti recorded 5 RBI's while Craig posted 3 RBI's. For the Owls, Lee went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in game two.

Vinti led off the Panther third with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Deandra Leo. Freshman Jeanine Leo would draw a walk as Iacomini came in to relief SCSU starting pitcher, Brittany Hill. Salerno was hit by the pitch and with the bases full of Panthers, Rhodes smacked a shot in between second and first scoring Vinti tying the game at 6-6.

Adelphi took the lead as Leo crossed the plate on a wild pitched and extended their lead on a RBI single by Rochelle Noren to go up 8-6. Adelphi's bats continue to sizzle as Craig laced a two-run RBI single. Vinti, who started the inning-off, lazer to left, closed the lights out on the Owls.

Iacomini's two-run blast put SCSU on the board to start the top of the first, however, the Panthers responded by batting around in their half.

Adelphi capitalized on four SCSU errors putting up a five-spot in the first. Vinti smashed a two-run RBI double scoring Brophy and Craig and knotting the game at 2. Freshman Heather Salerno's liner was off the glove of the Owls left-fielder giving Adelphi a 4-2 lead.

The Owls responded by scoring four times in their next at-bat. Lee's RBI double scored Bucko from first cut Adelphi's lead to two runs, 5-3. Pagano tied the game at 5-5 with a two-run RBI double to right-center and SCSU took their final lead of the afternoon on Kristin Whitley's RBI double.

Bell got the win, tossing 2.1 innings pitched, with three strike-outs, while Hill took the loss allowing seven runs, three earned, in 2.1 innings pitched.

Adelphi looks to continue rolling their bats as they host Bloomfield College in a non-conference doubleheader on Monday, April 5th at a site yet to be determined. First pitch is set at 3:00 p.m.