Garden City, N.Y. - With Tori Parente making her first career pitching appearance, the Adelphi University softball team earned a sweep over Bentley University on Saturday afternoon at Janet L. Ficke Field.

With these two wins, the Panthers (18-16, 9-3 NE10) now improve to 10-2 in games played at Ficke Field in 2024. 

Game 1: Adelphi 3, Bentley 0
The visitors didn't take long to threaten in Game 1, putting a runner in scoring position in a two-out first-inning rally. Senior ace Lindsey Hibbs subdued the opposition with her first strikeout to close the inning. 

In the second inning, it was the Brown and Gold's turn to find a runner in scoring position with two outs. After Jaden Farhat walked, Kaitlyn Klepper took off for third base, where she was caught stealing to thwart that momentum. 

Through the top of the fifth, the Falcons were only able to put one more runner in scoring position, when a pinch runner got to third base. A subsequent foulout kept a goose egg in the run column. 

The most important of two-out rallies came in the bottom half of the fifth, when Angela Lignelli took a pitch to the gaps, scoring Farhat to put the 'Cats on top. Zee Zee Shreter then stepped to the plate and smacked a triple that bounced off the wall, bringing in two more. 

While the Panthers held a firm lead, Bentley's two-out double in the sixth had the visitors sending a runner home. A throw from Klepper at second zipped to home plate in time for Angela Lignelli to apply the tag and preserve the shutout. 

Hibbs fanned two more batters in the seventh to close out the matinee, increasing her final line to zero earned runs on five hits, along with five strikeouts.

Game 2: Adelphi 4, Bentley 2
In the nightcap, Lily Kenney got the key bounces, turning two double plays in the first three innings. In the last of those however, a single up the middle from the Falcons' Ava Lanza put the road team on top. 

Head Coach Carla Campagna then made a call to the bullpen in the fourth frame, with the newcomer Parente taking the circle for the first time in her collegiate career.

It wasn't an easy start, with the bases being loaded by her third batter. More defensive wizardry was due following a force out at home. On a passed ball, Kendall Winn flipped the ball to Parente at home, tagging the runner to take a second run off the board for Bentley on the day. 

Faith Camilleri's single in the home half of the fourth brought home Jordyn Pasqueralli to tie the game, with Brianna Fischer poking another one through the left side to give the hosts a 2-1 advantage. 

Courtney Wengryn's double off the left-field wall gave the 'Cats some insurance in the following inning. An opposing two-bagger from the Falcons in the sixth put the game back to just a one-run separation. 

Fischer gave the Panthers the final offensive push, with her seventh frame double netting a pair of RBIs. Parente struck out her second batter in the final inning, earning her first-ever collegiate victory on a final line of one earned run and two hits through four innings.

Campagna and Adelphi will now continue their homestand, with Senior Day taking place tomorrow (Apr. 14) against Assumption University. First pitch is set for 12 noon, with pre-game festivities getting underway at 11:30 a.m.