NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC - The SUNY Poly softball team split their games on Wednesday, losing 8-6 to Randolph and beating Skidmore 11-1 in five-inning mercy. The Wildcats battled in the first game in what was a back-and-forth game. A big fifth inning ultimately won the game for Randolph. In the team's second game, the offense exploded for 11 runs on nine hits and played perfect defense. Trinity Critelli was dominant, earning her third win of the year.

GAME 1:

SUNY Poly – 6

Randolph – 8

WP: Emily Morris (4-1)

LP: Caitlin Reilly (0-2)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Randolph took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning after Lacey Lucado hit a sacrifice fly to score Dominique Irving, followed by Kylie Stark's triple to left center to bring home Jenna McDermott. SUNY Poly tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth inning, with Amy DeSena's double bringing in Ava Faragon and Kimberly Birmingham. Trinity Critelli then singled up the middle to drive in DeSena and give SUNY Poly a 3-2 lead.

Randolph tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning when Irving grounded out, scoring Kieran Wrighter. SUNY Poly then took a two-run lead in the top of the fifth when an error scored Maddelyn Hoehn and an RBI single by Amy DeSena drove in Ava Faragon. Randolph answered back, taking control of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring four runs to take a 7-4 lead.

SUNY Poly pitcher Caitlin Reilly took the loss, giving up eight runs on 11 hits in six innings of work. Randolph pitcher E. Morris earned the win, giving up four earned runs on six hits while striking out one batter.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Randolph's Jenna McDermott went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and two walks.
• Kylie Stark went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs for Randolph.
• Morgan Williams went 1-for-2 for Randolph with two RBIs and a walk.
• Ava Faragon went 1-for-4 with a double and two runs scored for Poly.
• SUNY Poly's Amy DeSena went 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs, and a run scored.
• Trinity Critelli went 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI for the Wildcats.

GAME 2:

SUNY Poly – 11

Skidmore – 1

WP: Trinity Critelli (3-0)

LP: Meghan Robertson (0-3)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

SUNY Poly came out strong in the first inning with three runs. Aeron Hamm had a sacrifice fly in the inning. Maddelyn Hoehn scored on a fielder's choice, and Amy DeSena scored on a wild pitch.  

Chloe McGonagle of Skidmore doubled to right field, scoring Melissa Mathias in the first inning, but that would be Skidmore's only run of the game.

SUNY Poly added three more runs in the second inning. Kelly Powell scored on a fielder's choice to start the scoring. Ava Faragon had an RBI single that drove in Gabriella Ellixson and Kimberly Birmingham drove in Faragon with an RBI single of her own.

Poly added another two runs in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Kimberly Birmingham and an Aeron Hamm RBI double.

The Wildcats tacked on three more in the top of the fifth to enact the 10-run mercy rule. They scored one on a double steal that saw Meghan Peek score, one on a throwing error, and one on a fielder's choice.  

Pitcher Trinity Critelli delivered a strong performance for SUNY Poly, allowing only three hits and one run in five innings while striking out eight batters. Skidmore's pitcher Meghan Robertson took the loss, allowing eight runs and eight hits in four innings.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Trinity Critelli pitched a complete game with eight strikeouts, allowing only one run and three hits.
• Ava Faragon went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and a pair of RBI.
• Kimberly Birmingham had three RBI, including a sacrifice fly and a groundout.
• Aeron Hamm drove in two runs with a sacrifice fly and a double.
• Kelly Powell went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base.
• Meghan Peek scored a run and stole a base as a pinch runner.

UP NEXT:

The Wildcats will wrap up their trip to Myrtle Beach with a pair of games against Susquehanna and Keene State on Thursday. The games are scheduled for 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM respectively.

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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.