Daytona Beach, Fla. - In a doubleheader spanning nearly five hours, the Adelphi University softball team suffered two consecutive losses on Wednesday evening to Embry-Riddle University.
After a run-ruled, six-inning defeat in game one, the Panthers (0-6) rallied from a 6-1 deficit to tie the game twice at 6-6 and 7-7, but ultimately fell in the nightcap, 8-7.
Game 1- Embry Riddle 9, Adelphi 1 (6 innings)
The Panthers left two sets of baserunners on in the first and second innings to start the contest against the Eagles (8-2), and the home team made them pay when they exploded with a five-run bottom of the second, courtesy of five hits and a pair for extra bases, while stranding just one on base.
The Panthers responded in the next frame after a leadoff triple from
Nicoletta Cuccio set the table.
Nicole Camera easily drove her in with a single to left field, but Embry-Riddle worked out of inning before any more damage was done.
The home team tacked on a run in the bottom of the fourth and threatened with bases loaded in the fifth, but
Nicole Mengel, in her second collegiate appearance, recorded the final groundout to return the Brown and Gold to offense.
The game would last just one more inning, however, as back-to-back singles from the Eagles followed by a walk started the sixth. Three runs scored ultimately for Embry-Riddle on a fielder's choice, a wild pitch and a fielding error, to conclude the game in six innings.
Game 2 - Embry Riddle 8, Adelphi 7
For the second time this season, the Panthers got on the board first when
Kailah Konkel put herself in scoring position after a one-out walk and a stolen base, as she was later driven in by teammate
Elisabeth Berard in the top of the second. Nonetheless, another big inning saw the Eagles quickly regain the lead, as they used three hits - capped by a Maggie Scott two-run triple - en route to six runs.
Adelphi tagged one more run on in the top of the third with the help of a
Christina Rizzi single to left which scored Cuccio, who drew a walk earlier in the inning. After holding the home team scoreless in the bottom half, the Panthers took advantage of two consecutive walks and a forced a pitching change in their next opportunity in the fourth.
Krista King collected her first RBI by driving in
Kristin Fealy who was swapped in as a pinch-runner after an
Emily Turney walk. From there - and with two outs - the Brown and Gold continued to rake in runs, as Cuccio, Camera and Rizzi both singled to even the game at 6-6 in the fourth.
Adelphi's parity was short-lived as a one-out single for shortstop Pege Lopez led to the Eagles' seventh run when she came around to score on a two-out throwing error, but the Panthers battled back again in the top of the sixth. Cuccio worked a walk to lead off and came around to score on Camera's one-out triple, again tying the game at 7-7.
The Eagles nonetheless got the winning run in the bottom of the sixth, as Lopez reached on a one-out error, and found herself in scoring position after a wild pitch. After another single, she came around to score on B. Limon's game-winning sacrifice fly.
Adelphi softball takes a break for one day and returns to action on Friday, Feb. 23 to begin a three-games series at Palm Beach Atlantic starting at 6:00 p.m. The team will turn around on Saturday for a double-dip against the Sailfish slated for 1:00 p.m.
About Adelphi Athletics
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009, and in the past eight seasons, has collected 25 regular season conference titles, 26 tournament championships, 33 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 Presidents' Cup four times (2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017), while winning six NCAA Division II National Championships.
For the latest on Adelphi University Athletics, follow the Panthers at www.aupanthers.com or via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat.
