MARCY, N.Y. – The SUNY Poly softball team split with North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) rival Cazenovia on Monday. The Wildcats played two great games, losing the first one 2-1 in a pitchers duel and winning the second in a 5-2 game that saw both offenses total double digit hits.
GAME 1
Game one was a great pitchers duel between Elizabeth Rigler (Boonville, N.Y.) and Cazenovia's Kelsey Morgan. Both pitchers were efficient and kept the offences off balance. Riegler threw a great game allowing six hits and two runs in seven innings. She struck out six batters, but was unfortunately tagged with the loss. Morgan allowed five hits and just one run while striking out nine to earn the win for Cazenovia.
The turning point in the game came in the top of the sixth inning when Cazenovia's Hannah Croteau knocked in the second run of the game on a double to right center allowing Jessica Keller to score.
The Wildcats would get themselves within one run in the bottom of the sixth on a Taylor Hines (Mechanicsville, N.Y.) single that drove home Wildcat center fielder Lindsey Leone (Whitesboro, N.Y.).
Taylor Hines went 2-3 in the game and was the only Wildcat with multiple hits.
Hannah Croteau went 2-4 for Cazenovia with two doubles. Jessica Keller went 2-3 in the game and had an RBI in the third inning.
GAME 2
In game two, both offenses woke up. SUNY Poly strung together five runs on 11 hits to earn the win while Cazenovia scored just two runs on 11 hits, leaving 11 runners on base.
Celine Laracuente (Utica, N.Y.) had a solid game on the mound for the Wildcats. Laracuente earned her second win of the season, allowing one earned run on 11 hits. She struck out one and walked one in the game.
Jessica Keller was tagged with the loss for Cazenoivia. Keller went six innings allowing five runs on 11 hits and went 2-3 at the plate for Caz.
Danielle Witchley (New Hartford, N.Y.) had a fantastic game both at the plate and behind the plate. Witchley supplied the power for the Wildcats, going 2-3 with an RBI double and a two run home run in the fifth to give the Wildcats a three run lead. Witchley was also a brick wall behind the plate, not surrendering a single passed ball or wild pitch in the game.
Corinna Laracuente (Utica, N.Y.) had two RBIs in the game for the Wildcats on a single in the bottom of the third. The single brought home Angela Bartlett (West Winfield, N.Y.) and Taylor Hines to give her sister, the pitcher in the game, a two run lead early in the game.
Four Wildcats had multiple hits in the game. Both of the Laracuente sisters, Danielle Witchley, and Angela Bartlett went 2-3 in the game. Bartlett and Witchley had a run scored.
For Cazenovia, Hannah Croteau had another two hit game going 2-4. Laura Matekovic also went 2-4 in the game with an RBI. Jessica Keller, the pitcher, went 2-3.
With the double header split, SUNY Poly's NEAC record stands at 5-7 on the season. Cazenovia is 7-5. The Wildcats will be back on the diamond tomorrow evening when they travel to take on NEAC foe Morrisville State in a pair of conference games. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3:00 PM in Morrisville.
