March 27, 2011

Game One/Game Two

Oakdale, N.Y. - The Adelphi University softball team traveled to Dowling College in Oakdale, New York on Sunday March 27 to play their former East Coast Conference rival. The Panthers slugged their way to a 6-1 win in game one, but their bats went silent in a 3-0 game two loss. With the split Adelphi is now 6-10 overall, while Dowling sits at 14-2.

Game One Leighann Bell pitched Adelphi to the win in game one, tossing a complete game for the second day in a row. She struck out seven, walked three and scattered eight hits in picking up her third win of the season.

Offensively the Panthers were led by Jeanine Leo, who was 2-3 with two runs scored and five RBI on two home runs in the win. Heather Salerno and Amanda Krier were also productive at the plate, as each player produced two hits.

Adelphi and Dowling played four scoreless inning when Leo put the Panthers on the board in the fifth. Paige Rhodes led the inning off, reaching first base after being hit by pitch and was driven home with one out when Leo smacked her first home run, giving the Panthers a 2-0 lead.

The Panthers added four more runs in the sixth as Shay Craig and Deandra Leo led the inning off with hits, placing two runners on for Krier, who stroked a single that scored Craig. With two outs Adelphi still had two runners on for Leo, who sent another ball over the fence, putting three more runs on the board to give Adelphi a 6-0 lead.

Dowling got one run back in the seventh, courtesy of a two out single, but Bell put down the final Golden Lions batter swining to pick up the win, 6-1.

Game Two Adelphi's bats went silent in game two, as the Panthers were only able to get one hit off Dowling hurler Mendoza, who struck out nine and walked none. Her counterpart Katie Andrews also had a fine outing, throwing the full six innings, striking out eight and walking two, while giving up just three hits, but was saddled with the loss.

Dowling wasted no time getting on the board in game two, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. The Golden Lions took advantage of a hit by pitch when the next batter sent the ball over the wall, giving the hosts a 2-0 advantage. Dowling's other run came in the bottom of the sixth when a single to left field brought another run across the plate.

Adelphi left one runner on base in the fifth and the seventh innings, stranding Jeanine Leo in the fifth and Liz Lindner in the seventh after she came on to run for Deandra Leo, who reached on an error.

The Panthers return to action on Monday, March 28 when they travel to Brookville, New York to take on former ECC and cross town rival C.W. Post.