MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The SUNYIT Softball Team (2-4, 0-0 NEAC) dropped two games on Wednesday, falling to the Bears of Ursinus College in the morning 7-1 before losing a close one to Bemidji State in the afternoon, 2-0.
GAME 1: Ursinus 7, SUNYIT 1
SUNYIT ran into a buzz saw in their morning match up in the form of Ursinus hurler Zoe Heinke. The sophomore pitcher went the distance for the Bears, surrendering just one run to the Wildcats while striking out 9 on the day.
Krista Pristera (New Hartford, N.Y. / New Hartford) drove in the only run of the game for the Wildcats with a base hit in the bottom of the 6th to score Fallon Reinold (Holland Patent, N.Y. / Holland Patent). Pristera's hit was one of just 3 for the Wildcats, who just couldn't seem to get anything going against Heinke.
Despite Heinke's domination, the Wildcats were down just 2-0 heading into the top of the 6th inning. In the top of the frame the Bears loaded the bases with one out, and Danielle Beal capitalized for Ursinus with a double to score two runs. At that point Bridget Ashmore (New Hartford, N.Y. / New Hartford) came in to replace Jessica Paterelli (Canastota, N.Y. / Canastota). Ashmore surrendered a base hit to score two more Bears, then retired the next two batters to get out of the inning. The damage was already done as all told the Bears pushed 4 runs across in the sixth, taking a 6-1 lead that would be more than enough for Heinke to hold.
GAME 2: Bemidji State 2, SUNYIT 0
The Wildcats again faced a tough pitcher in their afternoon matchup, however Jessica Patterelli was equal to the task for the Wildcats, rebounding from her morning outing to pitch a complete game in the afternoon, striking out 5 while surrendering no earned runs on the day.
Patterelli was stricken by a pair of early Wildcat errors, as Bemidji State scored single runs in the top of the 1st and 2nd innings, each of which were aided by SUNYIT errors. Patterelli would hold the visiting team scoreless the rest of the way, however, and seemed to get stronger as the game progressed, allowing zero hits over the final three innings.
Unfortunately for SUNYIT, Jessica Yost was even better for the visiting Beavers. The freshman hurler threw a complete-game shutout, striking out 7 while scattering 6 hits.
Leading the way in defeat for the Wildcats were left-fielder Kierston Albertson (Kirkville, N.Y. / East Syracuse Minoa) and first-baseman Erika Charbonneau (Boonville, N.Y. / Adirondack), who each finished 2-for-3 at the plate.