MARCY, N.Y. – The Wildcats earned a crucial sweep of SUNY Cobleskill in NEAC action on Wednesday, winning both games by the score of 3 to 1. Below are recaps of both games:
GAME 1: SUNYIT 3, Cobleskill 1
Krista Pristera (New Hartford, N.Y.) knocked in Lyndsey Brognano (Rome, N.Y. / RFA) on a triple to deep right-center field in the top of the first inning, and scored moments later on a base hit by Lauren Marleau (Prospect, N.Y. / Holland Patent) to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.
It would be all SUNYIT needed on the day, as Erica Hovey (Dexter, N.Y. / Jefferson CC) scattered 5 hits and survived two SUNYIT errors to pick up the complete game win. Hovey had a day to mirror her performance in general over the last two seasons, as the senior pounded the strike zone inning after inning, holding the Fighting Tigers scoreless over the last 5 innings of the game while striking out 3 and walking none.
For Cobleskill, it was Julia Lull leading the way. Lull finished 2-for-3 on the day, picking up the Tigers' lone RBI in the second inning. The Tigers, in fact, began the second inning with 3 straight base hits and seemed poised for a big inning. Hovey quickly put down the rebellion, however, inducing a pop-up followed by two strikeouts to get out of the inning.
GAME 2: SUNYIT 3, Cobleskill 1
If game two were a movie, it would have been directed by M. Night Shyamalan, with the "big twist" coming around the 6th inning.
After allowing an unearned run on an error and a fielder's choice in the top of the first, game two SUNYIT starter Fallon Reinold (Holland Patent, N.Y. / Holland Patent) held the Fighting Tigers scoreless heading into the top of the 6th, but also, more intriguingly – hitless. To add to the drama, Reinold's counterpart – Erica Wadsworth – was nearly as good, allowing just one hit and no runs through the first 5 innings.
It seemed, therefore, that Reinold was in line for an exceedingly unique combination, that of pitching a no-hitter while also losing the game.
In the top of the 6th at least one part of that storyline changed, as Julia Lull knocked a seeing-eye grounder up the middle that just missed the diving glove of SUNYIT shortstop Lyndsey Brognano (Rome, N.Y. / RFA). The Fighting Tigers actually had a runner on second for the play, but the placement of the groundball caused the runner to hesitate before taking off for third, which allowed SUNYIT center fielder Emily Lee (Boonville, N.Y. / Adirondack) to make a great play, fielding the single and gunning to third to get the runner for the inning's second out.
Reinold would go on to get out of the inning with no runs allowed, setting up more sixth inning drama in the bottom half.
SUNYIT co-captain and starter Tiffany Troilo (Rye Brook, N.Y. / Blind Brook) came up with a huge base hit to lead off the inning, lining one to center field. Lee then followed things up with a walk, and Troilo scored when the Cobleskill leftfielder misplayed a Lyndsey Brognano fly ball.
The Wildcats, in fact, were the beneficiaries of two costly errors on the inning by the Fighting Tigers, both of which led to runs as SUNYIT would take a 3-1 lead.
In the 7th Reinold would give the home fans a scare by walking the leadoff batter, but the first-year pitcher quickly recovered, retiring the next three batters in order to preserve the 3-1 win for SUNYIT.
The Wildcats will have a much-needed day off before hosting Keuka College on Friday, followed by two more home doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday. Game time for the Keuka College doubleheader is slated for 3:00 pm.