Garden City, N.Y. – Behind Jaylen Wright's aggressive baserunning and Kaitlyn Klepper's clutch RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning, Adelphi University's softball team earned a 2-1 victory over Southern New Hampshire on Friday afternoon to advance in the NCAA Division II East Regional. As a result, the Penmen were eliminated from the tournament.
Series History:
- Adelphi held a 4-2 season series lead heading into the matchup.
- Prior to today's game, the programs had faced off 34 times dating back to the 2010 season.
- Adelphi (37-22, 27-9 NE10) now improves to 25-10 all-time against the Penmen (34-23, 22-13 NE10).
Highlights:
- Klepper delivered the eventual game-winning hit, driving in one RBI.
- Wright registered a hit, a stolen base and scored both runs for the Panthers.
- Jenna Plue hurled four innings, allowing no earned runs while striking out six in her second start of the day.
- Lily Kenney came on in relief and worked two shutout innings, striking out three to earn her 10th win of the season.
How it Happened:
- Neither team was able to get on the board until the fourth inning, when the Penmen loaded the bases following back-to-back hits and an error. SNHU then drew a walk to force in the game's first run.
- Plue responded by striking out the next two batters to work out of the jam.
- In the bottom half of the fourth inning, Adelphi tied the game at one. After Wright ripped a single back to the pitcher to open the frame, she advanced to second on a passed ball. She then stole third and came home on an overthrow from the SNHU catcher.
- After Kenney entered in relief for Plue in the sixth inning, she worked out of a two-on, no-out situation by recording back-to-back strikeouts.
- In the bottom of the sixth, Wright drew a walk to begin the inning. Klepper then laced a 3-1 pitch into right-center field, allowing the speedy Wright to score all the way from first base and give Adelphi the lead.
- Kenney shut things down in the seventh, working a 1-2-3 inning to send the Panthers to the final day of the East 2 Region bracket.
Up Next:
- Head coach Katie Apostolopoulos and the Panthers return to the diamond on Saturday, May 16, at 12 p.m. to face St. Thomas Aquinas. In the double-elimination bracket, Adelphi will need to defeat the Spartans twice to advance to the Super Regional round.