UTICA, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly softball team defeated SUNY Cobleskill 10-2 in the opening game of a three-game North Atlantic Conference (NAC) series between the two. SUNY Poly won the game thanks in large part to a big third inning which saw eight runs cross the plate for the Wildcats and a great pitching performance that kept the Fighting Tigers off the board. The win was the Wildcat's 10th (10-4) of the season and their first in NAC play (1-0).
HOW IT HAPPENED:
SUNY Poly opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when Maddelyn Hoehn crossed the plate on an RBI single to left field by Amy DeSena.
The SUNY Poly offense exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the third frame to take a commanding 9-0 lead. Ava Faragon got the party started with a leadoff double. After advancing to third on a passed ball, she scored on a sacrifice fly by Amy DeSena. A few batters later, Kelly Powell hit an RBI double to score Kimberly Birmingham to make it a 3-0 game. Trinity Critelli had a super productive groundout that allowed two Wildcats to score, pushing the lead to 5-0. Ava Faragon grounded into a fielders choice to the third baseman, which, despite the Tiger's best efforts, scored another run without getting an out. Amy DeSena delivered a huge hit to round out the third inning scoring. She hit a double into the left-center field gap with the bases loaded to drive in three runs.
SUNY Cobleskill managed to get on the board in the fourth, scoring a run on an RBI double by Deanna Palmer and scoring on an RBI single by EmmaGrace Scileppi to make it 9-2.
The Wildcats put the game to bed in the bottom of the fifth inning when Amy DeSena drove in the Wildcat's 10th run of the game on a single to center field. The eight-run lead ended the game on a fifth-inning mercy rule.
Trinity Critelli earned her seventh win of the season on the mound. She threw five innings and struck out 12 batters. The 12 strikeouts put her in third place all-time at SUNY Poly with 228. Her strikeouts per seven-inning average is now 12.26 which has her second in the DIII National Rankings. The leader was at 12.4 K/7 as of April 6th.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
- Poly's Amy DeSena had a huge day at the plate with three hits, including a double, and six RBIs.
- Ava Faragon had three hits for the Wildcats including a double. She drove in a run and scored twice.
- Kelly Powell had a pair of hits with a double, an RBI, and a run scored for the Wildcats.
- For SUNY Cobleskill, Mackenzie Wendelken had a hit and scored.
- Deanna Palmer had a double and an RBI for the Fighting Tigers.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats will play two games on Saturday, April 8th to wrap up their season series with Cobleskill. The first game is scheduled for a 12:00 PM to start at Greenman Field in Utica. The second game will follow. Live coverage will be available for the games on the SUNY Poly Sports Network (SPSN).
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SUNY Poly is New York's globally recognized, high-tech educational ecosystem. SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience and nanoengineering, as well as cutting-edge nanobioscience programs at its Albany campus, and undergraduate and graduate degrees in technology, including engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and arts and sciences, including natural sciences, game design, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences at its Utica campus; thriving athletic, recreational, and cultural programs, events, and activities complement the campus experience. As the world's most advanced, university-driven research enterprise, SUNY Poly boasts billions of dollars in high-tech investments and hundreds of corporate partners since its inception. For information visit www.sunypoly.edu.