Azusa, Calif. -- After dropping the opener 8-3, the Adelphi University softball team was unable to hold on to a 3-0 lead in the second game of a double-header against the Cougars of Azusa Pacific University on Friday night and fell victim to the sweep with a 4-3 final.

Brenna Martini went 3-6 over both games for Adelphi (2-6), with an RBI in the opener and a run scored in the nightcap, while Megan Lewis went a combined 2-4 with a two-run single in the second game. Both Lauren Sandelier and Nicole Camera drove in a run in the opener, while Stephanie Staiano accounted for Adelphi's third run in game two.

Game 1
After Kristin Fealy worked around trouble in the first two innings, the hosts broke through in the third when back-to-back doubles gave them a 1-0 lead with one out. After a walk and a bunt single loaded the bases, Kayla Jimenez doubled to center field to score two more before Fealy got a strikeout and a flyout to end the inning. The hosts tacked on another run in each of the fourth and fifth innings to lead 5-0, as the Panthers conversly were retired in order in each frame.

Adelphi responded for two runs in the sixth, as Krista King and Sandelier reached on a bunt single and error, respectively, to set the stage for Martini with one out. She doubled to left center to score King, before Camera singled in Sandelier to make it a 5-2 game and bring the tying run to the plate. After Lewis walked to load the bases on a lengthy at bat, however, two fielder's choice groundouts left all the runners stranded,

The Cougars put the game away in the bottom of the inning as Jimenez cracked a three-run, two-out home run to right center off Jessica Vadala, after the previous batters reached on a single and a walk. In the final inning, Fallon McCarthy led off and ended up in scoring position courtesy of a two base error, before Sandelier drove in pinch runner Nicoletta Cuccio with two outs. Martini walked on four pitches to extend the inning, but Camera was retired to end the game just two pitches later.

Game 2
Adelphi managed to get a runner on in each of the first two innings, but were unable to push either into scoring position as they were erased on a double play and caught stealing. Lindsay Mapes matched zeros, as she retired the first six batters she faced before working around a leadoff single in the third to keep the game scoreless and allow the Panthers to take their first lead of the day in the fourth.

After King reached on an error to leadoff and Martini singled with one out, Camera walked to load the bases for Lewis, who rifled a single up the middle to score both King and Martini and put Adelphi on top, 2-0. Both Camera and Lewis advanced into scoring position when the first baseman overthrew the catcher in an attempt to get Martini, and Adelphi plated another run as a result on Staiano's RBI groundout before the inning came to an end.

The lead was short-lived, however, as the home team got four runs in the bottom of the inning to claim the lead. The first four hitters reached against Mapes, the last being a bases-clearing triple that tied the game, before she got Jimenez swinging for the first out of the inning. However, the Cougars took the lead on a successfully executed squeeze play before Mapes got the final hitter to fly out to end the inning. Mapes extinguished another threat in the fifth with two runners in scoring position, as she induced a soft liner to Martini at third base who flipped the ball to Danielle Cutuli to double the runner off third base.

Adelphi was not without chances to tie the game or reclaim the lead, none moreso than the sixth. Two walks and a single loaded the bases, but Narissa Garcia found some her best pitches and struck out Staiano, Cutuli and McCarthy to end the inning. Mapes was again tested in the bottom of the sixth but rose to the challenge, keeping it a one-run game when she stranded a runner at third by securing the final two outs. In Adelphi's last chance at the plate with two outs, both Cuccio and Martini walked to put the tying run in scoring position, but Camera was retired to end the threat and seal the sweep for the hosts.

Adelphi closes out its California swing with another double-header against California Baptist on Saturday, with first pitch of game one scheduled for a 12 pm PST start.

NOTES
- Martini has driven in a run in four of Adelphi's first eight games, and has had at least one hit in seven of eight.
- Camera has reached base safely in seven of eight games.

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About Adelphi University Athletics
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009 and in the past six seasons has collected 16 regular season conference titles, 21 tournament championships, 27 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 President's Cup twice (2013 and 2014), while winning five NCAA Division II National Championships.

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