LANCASTER, P.A.- The SUNY Poly softball team finally got the chance to open their North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) schedule today with two wins against Lancaster Bible. The Wildcats' bats came to life in both games scoring a combined 20 runs on 27 hits.
Game 1:
In game one, the Wildcats took down the Chargers 8-1. The Wildcats jumped out to an early lead in the first inning with a double from Melissa Barber (Nassau, N.Y.) that drove in Kali Maggiolino (Whitesboro, N.Y.). The Chargers struck in the bottom of the 4th with an RBI single to center field that would trim the deficit to 2-1. However, the Wildcats came back scoring one run per inning until the 7th. Kylie Chesebro (Oneida, N.Y.) pitched the entire game and earned her second win on the season. She had 6 strikeouts for the Wildcats.
Bailee Wood went 3-4 batting in 2 RBIs for the Wildcats. She is tied with most RBIs on the team at 8 and only has been struckout once on the year thus far.
Sydney McEvoy (Middleville, N.Y.) and Taylor Hines (Mechaniciville, N.Y.) both batted in one RBI to help in the Wildcats earn the win. McEvoy went 3-4 with a double. She currently has 6 RBIs on the year. Hines continued her hot hitting in NEAC play from last year going 2-4 with an RBI single to left field.
For Lancaster Katie Kleinhans went 2-2 on the day with a double. Rheeana Miles singled to center field driving in the lone run for the Chargers. Nicole Dekok was on the mound for the Chargers. She recorded one strikeout on the day.
Game 2:
The Wildcats got their bats going early in game two with an RBI double from Melissa Barber to start the game with a 2-0 lead. The Chargers would come back in the bottom of 2nd to shrink the lead to 5-3 off a double by Zoie Senn that drove in three runs. The Wildcats controlled most of the game until the bottom of the 7th when Martina McCauley got a sacrifice RBI that brought the score to 12-11, but the Wildcats would hold on to the lead to secure the two game sweep. Celine Laracuente (Utica, N.Y.) started on the mound for the Wildcats. She recorded one strikeout and allowed six hits. Taylor Hines closed out the last four innings of the game. She struck out two batters en route to her first win of the season.
Melissa Barber's bat stayed hot, despite the cold conditions. She went 3-3 and drove in three runs. She had two doubles and a single.
Kali Maggiolino and Bailee Haddad (Frankfort, N.Y.) both went 2-3 in the game. Haddad drove in a run with a single to right field in the second.
For Lancaster, Katie Kleihnhans went 3-5 with 2 RBIs off a double into right field in the bottom of the 7th. Martina McCauley went 3-4 drving in 2 runs. Martina McCauley was credited with the loss on the mound after giving up 10 runs on 7 hits. She had no strikeouts on the day.
Today's wins give the Wildcat's a 2-0 start in NEAC play. The 'Cats will face Penn St. Abington tomorrow. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled to start at 12:00 PM with the second game following at 2:00 PM.