Garden City, N.Y. - Faith Camileri hit two home runs during the Adelphi University softball team's doubleheader split against the Franklin Pierce University Ravens on Friday at Janet L. Ficke Field in a battle of the top two teams in the Northeast-10 Conference standings.
Game 1: Franklin Pierce 4, Adelphi 2
A four-run fourth inning by Franklin Pierce (21-3, 9-3 NE10) was enough to power the Ravens past Adelphi (24-10, 11-3 NE10) in Game 1, 4-2.
High level pitching from both teams was on display early. Lindsey Hibbs got the start in the circle for the Panthers and was dominant early, striking out six Ravens hitters through the first three frames.
Hibbs ran into trouble in the top of the fourth Gina Hinkley was hit by a pitch to start the frame and scored one batter later when Ashley Cangiano blasted a two-run home run over the right-center field wall to give Franklin Pierce a 2-0 lead. The Ravens doubled their lead later in the inning when Maiah Lopez knocked a two run double into left-center.
After getting just one baserunner through the first three innings against Sabrina Gonzalez, the Adelphi bats woke up in the bottom of the fourth. Trailing 4-0, Courtney Wengryn led-off the inning with her fourth home run of the season to dead center to get the Panthers on the board. Two batters later, Faith Camileri went opposite field, hitting one over the right field wall for her fourth round-tripper of the season, slicing the deficit to 4-2.
Claire Fon came in to pitch in relief in the 5th inning, and was able to keep the Ravens off the scoreboard throughout the rest of the game.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Panthers loaded the bases with just one out, but the threat was eliminated after Kendall Winn lined into a double play to end the inning. Adelphi was not able to push any runs across in the seventh as Franklin Pierce closed out the win.
Game 2: Adelphi 11, Franklin Pierce 3 F/6
Early scoring and a complete game by Claire Fon powered Adelphi to a sixth-inning walk-off win in Game 2, 12-3
Adelphi wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in Game 2. Courtney Wengryn and Ziara Shreter each had base hits to start the bottom of the first. Both runners scored when Alexa Sacripante punched a single through the right side. The Panthers added to their lead later in the frame when Sophia Cicchetti placed a triple in the right-center field gap, allowing Sacripante to score easily and give Adelphi the early 3-0 lead.
The Ravens responded the next half inning, plating two runs in the frame, cutting the Panther's lead to 3-2.
The home team continued to stay hot in the bottom of the second. Ashley Lombardi led-off the frame with a double, then scored when Wengryn reached on an error. Zhreter then hit a booming double to right field that missed clearing the wall by inches, putting runners on second and third with just one out. Both runners would come around to score later in the inning to extend the Adelphi lead to 6-2.
The Panthers continued the onslaught later in the frame. With runners on first and second, Camilleri blasted her second home run of the afternoon. When it landed, the Panthers owned a 9-2 lead.
Franklin Pierce scored one run in the third inning, but that was as close as they would get. The Ravens were shut out over the final 3 innings by Claire Fon, who pitched all six innings, allowing just three runs while striking out five.
In the bottom of the six innings, the Panthers ensured Franklin Pierce would not have another opportunity to hit. Kendall Winn drove in a run to make it 10-3, then Brianna Pearson, who was pinch hitting for Lombardi, hit a single up the middle to walk it off for the Panthers.
The Panthers return to action tomorrow afternoon when they host a double header against St. Michael's College on senior day. First pitch from Janet L. Ficke Field is set for 12-Noon.
