MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The SUNY Poly softball team traveled south to Myrtle Beach this past week to take place in the annual Snowbird Softball Tournament. The team split their eight games going 4-4 over four days of competition. The game experience was of the utmost importance with NEAC play just around the corner.

Day One

The first team on the Wildcats schedule was Kings College. The Wildcats stumbled in the first game losing 13-1. Fallon Reinold (Holland Patent, N.Y.) took the loss for the Wildcats, despite throwing a solid five innings. She allowed three runs on five hits. The game fell apart for the Wildcats in the top of the sixth when King's put up a ten spot to enact the mercy rule, ending the game. Danielle Witchley (New Hartford, N.Y.) went 2-3 in the game and had the lone RBI for the Wildcats.

Game two saw the Wildcats rebound against a familiar foe; the ex-NEAC member Penn State Harrisburg. Hannah Wasco (Rome, N.Y.) took the mound for the Wildcats and threw a great game. She allowed no runs on five hits, walked no one, and struck out five batters to earn her first win as a Wildcat. Danielle Witchley had another solid performance at the plate going 1-3 with a triple and an RBI. Hannah Wasco also went 1-3 and had an RBI. The final score of the game was 3-0 in favor of the Wildcats.

Day Two

Day two of the Wildcats spring break trip started out with a tough loss to Wilkes 8-0. The Wildcat offense was completely shut down by Wilkes pitcher Christina Gambino who threw a one hit shutout through five innings of work, thanks to the mercy rule. The Wildcats lone hit was a single off the bat of Taylor Hines (Mechanicville, N.Y.).

The Wildcats bounced back from defeat again on day two, this time with a mercy of their own. The offense came to life for the Wildcats who scored 13 runs to beat Franciscan 13-4 in five innings. Fallon Reinold got her first win of the young season with a 4 inning, seven strikeout performance. Erika Charbonneau (Boonville, N.Y.) led the way for the Wildcats with two RBIs on a deep double in the left center field gap. Charbonneau went 1-2 in the game with a walk. Leah Segerlin (Webster, N.Y.) went 3-3 in the six hole. She scored twice and had an RBI in the game. Abigail Coyne (Niskayuna, N.Y.) and Fallon Reinold also had multi-hit games, each going 2-3 and each scoring twice.

Day Three

On day three the team continued their offensive push against Hilbert, winning 10-1 in five innings. Fallon Reinold earned the win, going five strong innings. She allowed just four hits, struck out eight, and did not allow a single walk. Erika Charbonneau went 3-3 on the day. She drove in three runs, scored one herself, and had a stolen base. Abigail Coyne drove in two runs, going 1-3, and scored two runs. Taylor Hines went 2-4 and scored a run for the Wildcats.  

The second game against Briar Cliff ended in a loss for the Wildcats 6-2. The team strung together some hits against a good Briar Cliff pitcher, but could not push the runs across. Hannah Wasco took the loss for the Wildcats. Danielle Witchley had the lone extra base hit for the Wildcats, and also had the only RBI.

Day Four

In the seventh game of the Wildcats road trip they ran into a buzz saw pitcher from Rio Grande; Kelsey Conkey. Conkey mowed down 10 Wildcats in five innings of work and did not allow a single hit. The Wildcats lone hit came off of relief pitcher Tiffany Bise. Hannah Wasco took the loss in the game. The final score was 8-0 in six innings.

The Wildcats would end their trip on a high note with a 2-1 win over Mount Aloysius. The Wildcats took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning after a walk and a passed ball allowed Elizabeth Riegler (Boonville, N.Y.) to score on a double by Erika Charbonneau to left center field. Erika would score on the very next play on a single up the middle by Angela Bartlett (West Winfield, N.Y.). The Wildcats would allow a run in the top of the fifth, but shut down Mount Aloysius in the sixth and seventh to secure the victory. Fallon Reinold earned the win on the mound. She allowed just three hits in seven innings and struck out six batters.

The Wildcats emerged from the trip with a 4-4 record. They had three hitters emerge from the trip with a .300 or better average, three hitters with multiple RBIs, seven extra base hits as a team, and seven players with at least three runs scored. The team will return to Utica and prepare for their first games up north on March 29th at Utica College. Game one of the double header is scheduled for 3:30 PM.