Garden City, N.Y. - Following a seventh inning infield single from
Meghan Fisher, the Adelphi University softball team swept its doubleheader against Queens College on Tuesday afternoon at Janet L. Ficke Field, with the final scores of 8-1 and 2-1.
Game 1: Adelphi 8, Queens 1
The matinee consisted of heavy offense from the 'Cats on a sunny day at Ficke Field.
After letting up the first run via a sacrifice fly, Game 1 starter
Jenna Plue was able to escape an early jam with help from the hot corner. Sophomore
Ellen Tarjan laid out for a diving catch to end the first inning in thrilling fashion.
Plue worked out of trouble again in the second, striking out two in the frame to get the Brown and Gold back to the dugout. The Panthers' bats shortly erupted thereafter, scoring seven runs combined in the next two innings. Catcher
Amanda Chavarria tied the game up with an RBI single in the second, bringing home
Julianna Sanzone who legged out a double earlier in the frame.
Five runs came across for the 'Cats in the third, highlighted by a pair of extra base hits. The first coming off the bat of
Brianna Pearson, ripping a double off the wall in left center, notching an RBI, and extending the lead to two. Not long after,
Tori Parente provided a boom of her own, giving Adelphi a five run lead after her bases-clearing triple, creating a roar in the stands at Ficke Field.
Following Parente coming home on a wild pitch, the Panthers extended the lead further to six. Not letting an opportunity go to waste, the Brown and Gold capitalized on a fielding error by the visiting Knights to score freshman
Emily Wolfe, upping the margin to seven.
That would be more than enough support for Plue, as she retired the last seven batters of the game in the complete game victory. Holding Queens to just two hits for the game, the transfer pitcher tallied her second win on the season, racking up four strikeouts in the 107 pitch effort.
Game 2: Adelphi 2, Queens 1
The nightcap featured a different brand of softball, highlighted by pitching and defense from both squads, but the Panthers came up clutch behind Fisher's first walk-off of her collegiate career.
Adelphi cracked the box score first, as first baseman
Makayla Comer scored on a costly error by the Knights defense. Otherwise, Game 2 starter Caylea Cambell held the 'Cats offense in check with precise pitching and gold glove caliber defense on the mound.
After highlighting Game 1 with a triple, Parente got the ball in Game 2 and did not disappoint. Her and Campbell matched each other's dominance in the low-scoring pitching duel.
Fast forward to the top half of the sixth, senior outfielder Amanda Baez broke the seal for Queens with an RBI single. After evening out the game in the sixth, the visitors threatened some more, loading the bases with only one out. Head Coach
Katie Apostolopoulos showed confidence in Parente, deciding to leave her in the high leverage situation.
With the game on the line, Parente came up clutch, fielding a come backer setting up an unconventional 1-2-3 double play. The timely play sent the 'Cat supporters into a frenzy, as the sophomore pitcher let out a burst of emotion on her way to the dugout.
Still knotted up at one, Pearson was called on to pinch hit in the bottom of the seventh. After drawing a walk, Comer once again impacted the game, laying a perfect bunt down the third base line to reach safely.
Following a ground ball to the right side by Sanzone to move the runners over, the freshman Fisher stepped up to the plate. With the Knights defense playing a couple steps closer with only one out in the inning, Fisher came through on an infield single up the middle. With Pearson leaving the shortstop no play at home, the Panthers began celebrating down the right field line.
Parente's complete game showcase helped notch her first win on the season, finishing with one earned run and five strikeouts on 94 pitches.
Apostolopoulos and Adelphi will return to action on Friday, Mar. 21 against Georgian Court University. First pitch at Ficke Field is set for 2 p.m.
