MYRTLE BEACH, S.C – The 2014 SUNYIT Softball Team (1-1) opened their season in sunny Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Monday with a split in the Snowbird Softball Invitational. The Wildcats hung 4 runs in the 5th inning en route to an 8-3 win over Delaware Valley before dropping a tough game to Penn College, 5-3.
Krista Pristera (New Hartford, N.Y. / New Hartford), a NEAC 1st Team All-Conference selection last year, showed no signs of slowing down in her junior year, leading the Wildcat attack with a 3-for-4 performance that included a home run and a double. Pristera finished the game with 3 RBI's to lead all players.
Junior Jessica Patterelli (Canastota, N.Y. / Canastota) had an impressive debut for the Wildcats. The SUNYIT transfer tripled during the 4-run fifth inning, and finished the game with a pair of RBI's. Paterelli had a busy day, going five innings strong on the mound, surrendering just 1 Earned Run and striking out 6 to take the victory.
In the day's second game, SUNYIT dropped a close one to Penn College, 5-3. The Wildcats jumped out to an early lead in the top of the 1st inning, as a two-out single by Pristera precipitated a double by Patterelli and a single by Abby Black (Turin, N.Y. / South Lewis). When the dust settled SUNYIT held a 2-0 lead, but Penn would get it back and then some during a 3 hit, 3 run second inning. The home team then followed it up with two more in the bottom of the third on a 2-run homer by the designated-hitter Jessica Gmerek. It would be all Penn would need, as the aptly named Arika Stopper surrendered just one run to the Wildcats after the first inning, going the distance and striking out five for a 5-3 victory.
Fallon Reinold (Holland Patent, N.Y. / Holland Patent) took the loss for the Wildcats, pitching 6 innings and giving up 5 runs (3 earned) while striking out five and walking three.