UTICA, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly softball team lost on Monday one win shy of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Championship game. The Wildcats started day two of the tournament with a big 12-2 win over UMPI to advance in the bracket but lost their second game of the day 13-10 in a slugfest to Cazenovia. The Wildcats end their 2023 campaign with a 21-7 overall record.

GAME ONE:

UMPI – 2

SUNY Poly – 12

WP: Trinity Critelli (16-3)

LP: Hailey Saylor (7-13)  

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The UMPI Owls struck first, scoring a run in the top of the first inning on an RBI double by Dalaney Anfinson. The Wildcats answered back in a big way in the bottom of the first, scoring five runs. Kimberly Birmingham started the scoring with a two-RBI triple to right center field. A few batters later, the Wildcats added three more runs on a Kelly Powell three-run home run. It was her first career home run.

The Wildcats scored four more runs in the second inning. Kimberly Birmingham hit a double to center field that drove in two runs. The next batter, Aeron Hamm, drove in a run on a productive groundout to second base. Kelley Powell drove in the game's ninth run with a sacrifice fly that scored Birmingham.

UMPI scored a run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the third, but again the Wildcats answered right back with three runs of their own on an error, an RBI single by Kimberly Birmingham, and an RBI single by Aeron Hamm. The game ended after the top of the fifth inning 12-2.

Trinity Critelli earned her 16th win of the year. She threw four innings, allowed four hits, one earned run, and struck out six batters.

Hailey Saylor was on the losing end of the decision. She allowed nine earned runs, walked four, and struck out two batters.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Kimberly Birmingham had an outstanding game for Poly. She went 3-for-3 with a double, a triple, and five RBI.
• Kelly Powell went 1-for-2 for the Wildcats with a three-run home run, a sacrifice fly, four RBI, and a run scored.
• Maddelyn Hoehn had two hits and a pair of runs scored for SUNY Poly.
• Dalaney Anfinson had a solid game for UMPI. She went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

GAME TWO:

SUNY Poly – 10

Cazenovia – 13

WP: Sarah Penny (6-4)

LP: Trinity Critelli (16-4)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

SUNY Poly jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the first inning. Aeron Hamm hit a single that drove in two runs to get the scoring started. Kelly Powell contributed an RBI groundout to extend the lead to 3-0. Trinity Critelli's RBI single that drove in Hamm made it a four-run lead for Poly.

Cazenovia responded in the bottom of the first, with Alivia Turk scoring on an Olivia Simone double. Sydney Burk brought in another run with an RBI single, narrowing the deficit to 4-2.

In the second inning, Cazenovia capitalized on a throwing error and a few hits. Olivia Simone's single and Madison Cieslak's hit, coupled with a throwing error by the left fielder, allowed Cazenovia to score three runs and take a 5-4 advantage.

SUNY Poly fought back in the third inning. A Kelly Powell single brought in two runs, and Taylor Hunter hit a double adding another, giving SUNY Poly a 7-5 lead. However, Cazenovia's baserunning prowess came into play, with Kaylie Kendrick stole home on a well-executed first and third play. Callie Lafontaine then scored on a fielder's choice, tying the game at 7-7. Olivia Simone gave Cazenovia the lead on an RBI groundout that scored Alivia Turk.

SUNY Poly continued to battle, and in the fourth inning, Kimberly Birmingham's presence on the bases caused a throwing error, allowing Amy DeSena to score, tying the game at 8-8. Kelly Powell then blasted a two-run home run, giving SUNY Poly a 10-8 advantage.

Cazenovia refused to back down and staged a comeback of their own. In the fourth inning, Kirsten Joslin's single brought in two runs, tying the game at 10-10. Then, in the sixth inning, Kirsten Joslin's single gave Cazenovia an 11-10 lead, and Alivia Turk's double drove in another run. Olivia Simone added an insurance run on an RBI groundout, extending the lead to 13-10.

Despite SUNY Poly's efforts to mount a late comeback, Cazenovia's pitching held them off, securing the 13-10 victory. Sarah Penny came on in relief in the fourth and earned the win. Trinity Critelli pitched the entire game for SUNY Poly, giving up 13 runs on 13 hits. She struck out four.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Kelly Powell hit her second home run of her career for the Wildcats in the fourth inning. She went 2-for-4 with five RBIs.
• Aeron Hamm went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs for SUNY Poly.
• Gabriella Ellixson had a pair of hits for the Wildcats.
• Taylor Hunter hit a double and drove in a run for SUNY Poly.
• Olivia Simone led Cazenovia with five RBIs, a double, and two singles. She also scored twice.
• Sarah Penny was solid for Cazenovia. She went 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and a stolen base.
• Madison Cieslak went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk for Cazenovia.
• Callie Lafontaine had a pair of hits and scored three times for Cazenovia.
• Kirsten Joslin had three RBI and two hits for Cazenovia.

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT:

• In 49 games played for the Wildcats, Gabriella Ellixson has 47 hits, nine extra-base hits, 27 runs scored, 15 RBI, and eight stolen bases. Her career batting average finishes at .362 with an on-base percentage of .417 and a .438 slugging percentage. Gabriella will be graduating from SUNY Poly with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
• In her two seasons for Wildcat Softball, Maddelyn Hoehn has been solid at the top of the lineup. In 54 games, she has recorded 59 hits including 14 doubles, a triple, and two home runs. She has scored 51 times, has driven in 22 runs, and has stolen 11 bases. For her career, Hoehn hit .328 with a slugging percentage of .450 and an on-base percentage of .399. Maddelyn will be graduating from SUNY Poly with a degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry.

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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.