MYRTLE BEACH, SC – The SUNYIT softball team split a pair of contests during day three of the Snowbird Tournament in Myrtle Beach, SC Wednesday, defeating Penn College 9-1 before falling to Bluefield College 2-1.  The Wildcats are now 4-2 overall.

The Wildcats got their third straight five-inning, run-rule victory against Penn College, holding Penn's offense in check throughout the contest and exploding for six runs in the third inning to secure the victory.  Junior Juleah Vedder (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) continued her outstanding play, going 3-for-3 at the plate with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored while also pitching four innings and striking out five batters. Juniors Bianca Brown (Utica, NY/Mohawk Valley CC) and Nicolette Kennedy (Yonkers, NY/Good Counsel Academy) both finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored, while classmate Amanda Pratt (Rochester, NY/Rush-Henrietta) also went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored.

The Wildcats cooled off against Bluefield, as they were held to just six hits and suffered nine strikeouts.  Bluefield took an early lead with an unearned run in the second and took a 2-0 lead in the fifth on an RBI double by Morgan Hill.  SUNYIT finally got on the board with a run in the sixth on an RBI single from Pratt, but would be held scoreless the rest of the way to suffer the loss.

Senior Meaghan McGurn (Slingerlands, NY/Hudson Valley CC) went the distance for SUNYIT and had three strikeouts, while Lindsey Lester pitched a complete game for Bluefield.

The Wildcats will be back in action tomorrow with two games during the final day of tournament, taking on Dakota State at 9:00 am and Southern Vermont College at 1:00 pm.