New Haven, Conn. - Despite trailing after the first inning in both games, the Adelphi University softball team scored a pair of divisional victories against the Southern Connecticut State University Owls on Thursday afternoon, 8-6 and 13-2.
After sweeping a doubleheader from the Owls at Janet L. Ficke Field last week, the Panthers (17-11-1, 10-0-1 NE10) ensured a season sweep against their Southwest Division foes with a pair of road victories, running their overall winning streak to 10 games.
Across the two games,
Brenna Martini had a game-high five RBIs, as she went 5-for-9 at the plate overall with three runs scored, and hit her fifth home run of the season - a three-run blast to left - in game two.
At the top of the lineup,
Krista King went 4-for-9 across the two games, driving in two in game one and scoring three runs in a three-hit game in the nightcap, while
Nicoletta Cuccio went 3-for-7 on the afternoon, scoring three runs and driving in one in the opener.
Game 1
A back-and-forth game one saw three ties and three lead changes, but Adelphi took the lead for good in the top of the sixth inning as King delivered an RBI double which scored
Elisabeth Berard and Martini added insurance with an RBI fielder's choice.
Previously, Adelphi turned around a 3-2 deficit with a three-run fourth inning, as starting pitcher
Nicole Mengel drove in the tying run with her bat with a single to center field, before a bases loaded walk to
Lauren O'Neill and a fielder's choice off King's bat led to two more runs and a 5-3 lead.
However, SCSU (5-13, 3-4 NE10) rallied with the long ball, as Bryanna McIntosh hit a solo shot in the bottom of the frame and Maria Zecena stroked a two-run blast in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at 6-6.
Despite surrendering the tying runs over her four innings of relief,
Jessica Vadala had a strong bottom of the seventh to secure the win, striking out two in a 1-2-3 inning.
Game 2
The Panthers scored at least 10 runs for the third time this season over the course of game two, as at least one run crossed the plate in five of seven innings played.
Trailing 1-0 after a Sara Buscett homer in the first inning,
Emily Turney tied the game with an RBI single in the top of the second, and Adelphi took the lead with a three-run third on an error and an RBI single from Martini. The senior's bat again did the work in the fourth inning, as her three-run homer made it a 7-2 game, and Adelphi added two in the fifth and four in the seventh to cap the sweep.
Ally Muller pitched five innings of two-run softball to earn her seventh win of the season with three walks and four strikeouts in the circle, while
Kristin Fealy worked two innings of one-hit action in relief with three punchouts.
Adelphi is back in action on the road this weekend, in a rematch of last season's NE10 Championship vs. Merrimack on Saturday. First pitch of the double dip is set for noon.
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.
