KSC Softball increased its winning streak to four with a 2-1 win over the State University of New York (SUNY) Polytechnic Institute Wildcats on March 19.
Starting on March 14, softball played in Little River, S.C. for the annual Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. In the 10-game series, the team competed against several non-Little East Conference (LEC) contenders.
The game against the Wildcats, which concluded the series, proved to be a pitcher’s duel. The Owls deployed junior Lilah Demmy to the mound, while the Wildcats sent out Trinity Critelli. Critelli struck out the Owls one-by-one in the first inning, while Demmy secured two swinging Ks and a pop-up.
The second inning saw the first hit of the game after junior outfielder/infielder Liv Whittier laid down a bunt to the catcher and landed on first base. Unfortunately for the Owls, two strikeouts followed and Whittier was caught stealing second, which brought the top of the second inning to a close.
The Wildcats saw some offense of their own in their half of the second with pitcher/infielder Joy Stevens and infielder Amy DeSena notching singles with just one out. The Owls were able to quash the rally after an infield fly which also caught DeSena out at first.
The third inning produced little offense for both sides outside of the Wildcats’ outfielder Ava Faragon slicing a double to right field but Faragon was left stranded by the innings’ end.
First-year catcher/shortstop Elyse Picard secured a single in the fourth, but the Owls would not capitalize, as Whittier fouled out to end their half of the inning. The Wildcats did not see offense either that inning, with Demmy locking down her fifth K of the day to end the inning.
In the fifth, the Owls had their most promising offensive blitz yet. With one out, Demmy shot a single to the Wildcats’ shortstop. First-year third baseman/first baseman Abbie Monkevicz laid down a bunt to third base, advancing Demmy to third. Monkevicz then stole second base, but two swinging strikeouts from the Owls fizzled out the rally.
The Wildcats’ offense remained quiet in the fifth and sixth, with a double in the fifth and a single in the sixth, though both were left stranded.
In the seventh, neither team broke through either’s pitching. Demmy struck out the Wildcats’ side in the bottom half of the inning, securing her sixth, seventh and eighth Ks of the day.
With the match standing scoreless after seven, extra innings began. Demmy was placed on second to kick off the eighth.
The Owls sent in a pinch runner, first-year infielder/pitcher Emma Chenette, for Demmy. Chenette quickly stole third base which meant the Owls were 90 feet away from their first run of the game.
Monkevicz laid down a bunt to the pitcher which placed her on first but did not advance Chenette. Following a pop-up, the Owls sent in first-year pitcher/second baseman Megan Strzegowski to pinch-hit. Strzegowksi reached first base on a fielding error after laying down a sacrifice bunt. The error allowed Monkevicz to reach third and Chenette to easily score, netting the Owls their first run of the game.
The scoring did not stop quite yet though, as junior pitcher/outfielder Carissa Miller shot an RBI single to first base, plating Monkevicz. With Miller stealing second base, the Owls had two runners in scoring position, but a fielder’s choice saw Strzegowski gunned down at home plate and the offense fizzled out.
Leading 2-0, the Owls avoided a late-breaking comeback bid from the Wildcats. With a runner placed on second and quickly advancing to third on a foul, the Wildcats’ catcher Taylor Hunter notched an RBI single to left field. This would be the only run scored, however, as a pair of baserunning mistakes caught the Wildcats in their tracks and ended the game.
The Owls ended the series with a 4-6 record and will now look to play Montclair State University in New Jersey for a double-header on March 24.
Elyse Picard is Equinox Staff.
Nathan Hope can be contacted at
nhope@kscequinox.com
