Denver, Colo. -- The fifth inning was the story for the Adelphi University softball team on Wednesday in game two of their NCAA Division II National Championship campaign, as the Panthers scored a run in the top of the inning to break a scoreless tie before seeing the #3 team in the nation in Division II, the Lions of North Alabama, score five in the bottom of the frame on the road to a 5-1 win.

Nicole Camera accounted for Adelphi's (35-21) only run, as she drove in Christina Palmenteri with the game's first run in to give Adelphi a 1-0 lead. However, the bottom of the inning was where the Lions (57-6) struck against Lindsay Mapes, as North Alabama took advange of three Panther errors and also had three hits to put up a five-spot that was the difference in the game. 

"When we get to this stage, everybody here is good," Head Coach Bree Nasti stated. "A couple of untimely mistakes, but we competed. I'm really impressed with that. I think we're competing and we're doing a lot of great things. It was a great game between two great teams."

Mapes and Lions' starter Raven Cole worked in and out of trouble over the first four innings, as the two pitchers combined to strand nine base runners. Adelphi's had chances to score before the fifth came in both the third and fourth innings, beginning when Fallon McCarthy and Nicoletta Cuccio worked out walks to bring Brenna Martini to the plate with two down in the third. Martini delivered in the clutch, stroking a single down the left field line, but McCarthy was thrown out on a perfect throw to home to end the inning. In the fourth, Megan Lewis was drilled by a pitch with one out and Stephanie Staiano singled, but Cole retired Lauren Sandelier on a popup and McCarthy on a strikeout to end the inning.

Mapes faced her biggest test early on in the fourth, as the Lions loaded the bases on a hit batter, a single and an intentional walk with one out. From there, Mapes put on a masterful performance, striking out the next two hitters on 2-2 and 3-2 counts to keep the game scoreless. 

Palmenteri singled to lead off the fifth, and Adelphi was in business when consecutive walks to Cuccio and Martini loaded the bases with one out. Camera then singled down the left field line, but Cuccio was tagged out at third for the second out and Staiano grounded out off of the Lions' new pitcher, Hillary Cartpenter to end the inning.

A single up the middle led off the bottom of the inning for the Lions, before two consecutive miscues on defense for the Panthers led to the tying run scoring and a jam for Mapes to work out of. Courtney Shields then doubled to left center to score a run and put the Lions ahead for good, and they tacked on three more on a groundout, a single and a third Adelphi error before Mapes finally got out of the inning by inducing two foul outs. Adelphi was unable to get a runner on in the final two innings, as all six batters were retired without a ball leaving the infield. 

"Whatever the situation, we're going to fight for one more day, one more game," Nasti said. "We're going to be okay as long as we compete and we do our best."

The Panthers will return to action in the elimination bracket tomorrow, May 19, when they face the winner of tonight's contest between Grand Valley State and Armstrong State. First pitch is scheduled for 2 pm MT (4 pm ET). 

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About Adelphi Athletics:
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009 and in the past six seasons has collected 18 regular season conference titles, 22 tournament championships, 29 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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