Springfield, Mass. - Building off the momentum of a Friday sweep, the Adelphi University softball team posted a pair of shutouts to wrap up a four-game series at American International College on Saturday, defeating the Yellow Jackets 7-0 and 8-0.
The top of the lineup set the table for Adelphi (15-11-1, 8-0-1 NE10) in game one, as the first through third hitters of
Krista King,
Nicoletta Cuccio and
Brenna Martini went a combined 6-for-11 with six runs scored and an RBI.
In game two, the lower half of the Adelphi order got clicking on offense, as the seven through nine hitters of
Emily Turney,
Elisabeth Berard and
Lauren O'Neill went a perfect 7-for-7 at the plate, scored three runs and drove in two, while Cuccio and
Lauren Sandelier also knocked in two runs apiece.Â
In the circle,
Kristin Fealy got the win in the opener in relief for the Panthers, as she pitched four innings in the seven-inning victory in relief of
Nicole Mengel and allowed just three hits. In game two,
Ally Muller hurled five shutout innings while allowing just one hit and striking out six Yellow Jackets (2-18, 2-6 NE10).
Game 1
Four hits for the Panthers and three errors in the field by the Yellow Jackets led to a four-spot for the visiting team in the opening inning, as an infield single and a double for King and Cuccio set the stage for the big frame.
Martini drove in King with a single, but an error in the field led to Cuccio scoring, before
Christina Rizzi reached on a second AIC miscue which scored Martini for the 3-0 lead. Rizzi later crossed home on an RBI single from Turney, and Mengel set the Yellow Jackets down in order after being handed the lead.
The lead grew to 6-0 in the second, as a
Nicole Camera sacrifice fly and a wild pitch helped two more Panthers cross home plate, and Mengel kept the early shutout going as she worked around a hit batter and an infield single in the home half of the inning.
American Int'l threatened against Fealy in the fourth, recording two of its three hits against her, but the junior worked out of trouble against a pair of pinch-hitters to keep the shutout in tact, and kept hurling until the end of the game. Adelphi added its final run in the top half of the seventh, as Cuccio led off with an infield single and eventually crossed home, and Fealy preserved the shutout in style by inducing a double play to end the game.
Game 2
Adelphi batted around in the first inning, and Mengel opened the scoring with her bat as her pinch-hit double scored Cuccio just three batters in for the early 1-0 lead. Sandelier's two-run single brought in both
Nicole Camera and Rizzi, who ran loose on the bases with a double steal after reaching on catcher's interference and a fielder's choice.
The scoring continued for the Panthers as Turney laced a single, and Berard and O'Neill both legged out infield hits to keep the line moving and add a fifth run. When all was said and done, 10 Panthers came to bat in the first frame, and five hits, three steals and a walk led to the offensive burst,
That was more than enough for Muller in the circle, who allowed just one baserunner over the final three innings. Adelphi ensured its third run-ruled win in the series with a run in the third and two more in the fifth, as Cuccio drove in two and Camera was responsible for the third.
Adelphi continues divisional play on Wednesday afternoon, returning home to Janet L. Ficke Field for a doubleheader with Pace University beginning at 3 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 26 regular season conference titles, 28 tournament championships, 37 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.
