KEUKA PARK, N.Y. – SUNYIT 1st-Team All-Conference hurler Erica Hovey (Dexter, N.Y. / Jefferson CC) pitched a complete-game gem, shutting out Penn St.-Berks 3-0 in seven innings. With the win the Wildcats (24-10, 17-3 NEAC) advance to play the NEAC South's top seed, Wilson College, in an 8:00 am match up tomorrow morning, while Berks drops into the loser's bracket.
SUNYIT broke the 0-0 tie in the bottom of the third inning as recently named Co-NEAC North Player of the Year Lyndsey Brognano (Rome, N.Y. / RFA) ripped a two-out double before stealing third and scoring on a passed ball. After a pair of walks, senior Amanda Pratt (Rochester, N.Y. / Rush-Henrietta) then drilled a single to score Bianca Brown (Utica, N.Y. / Utica-Proctor) from second.
The Wildcats would add another run in the fifth on a Krista Pristera (New Hartford, N.Y. / New Hartford) triple, but it would be more than enough as Hovey was dominant. The junior allowed just four hits all day while striking out 4 and never allowing more than one hit in an inning.
The Wildcats played flawless defense in committing zero errors.
Live stats will be available for Game 2 at this link.