Utica, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly softball team came away with another pair of wins, defeating the Houghton Highlanders by scores of 4-0 and 11-0. Annabella Mondello, Kimberly Birmingham and Alivia Turk all drove in multiple runs, while Trinity Critelli and Mondello dominated in the pitching circle. The wins push the Wildcats record to 14-7.
GAME ONE:
The Wildcats got on the board early in Friday's matchup against Houghton, plating two runs in the bottom of the first to grab the momentum right out of the gate. After Ava Faragon was hit by a pitch to open the inning, Shelbi Hagues followed with a single to left. Kimberly Birmingham then roped an RBI double to center, and Joely Welpe brought in another run with a sacrifice fly to give the Wildcats a 2–0 lead.
While the second inning went quietly for both sides, the Wildcats threatened again in the third after a leadoff single by Trinity Critelli. Though a caught stealing and some aggressive baserunning kept them from adding to the lead that inning, the pressure on Houghton's defense never let up.
The Wildcats kept the bats active in the fourth, loading the bases after a single by Welpe, a walk to Aliva Turk, and a base hit from Jadyn Childers. However, Houghton managed to escape the jam unscathed to keep the score at 2–0.
In the fifth, the Wildcats struck again. Hagues doubled to left, advanced on a groundout, and crossed the plate on a sharp RBI single from Birmingham, extending the lead to 3–0. A Houghton error later in the frame allowed the Wildcats to load the bases once more, but they couldn't capitalize.
The Wildcats tacked on one final insurance run in the sixth. After a leadoff double by Kelly Powell and a single from Faragon, Hagues delivered again with her fourth hit of the day—an RBI single that pushed the lead to 4–0.
On the mound, Trinity Critelli was dominant. The right-hander tossed a complete game shutout, striking out 11 and scattering just one hit over seven innings.
GAME TWO:
The Wildcats wasted no time jumping out to an early lead in Game 2 against Houghton, plating two runs in the bottom of the first. Ava Faragon led off with a single, and after a lineout double play briefly stalled momentum, the Wildcats rallied. Anabella Mondello singled, Kimberly Birmingham walked, and a misplayed fly ball off the bat of Joely Welpe allowed the game's first run to score. Moments later, Kelly Powell ripped an RBI single to center, giving SUNY Poly a quick 2–0 advantage.
The second inning saw the Wildcats explode for six more runs. Singles from Aliva Turk and Faragon, combined with a walk and clutch hitting from the middle of the order, helped fuel the frame. Shelbi Hagues delivered a two-run single to center, and Mondello followed with a booming two-run triple to right-center. Birmingham stayed hot with an RBI single to bring in Mondello, and Turk capped the rally with her second hit of the inning—a run-scoring single that made it 8–0.
Houghton's offense struggled to gain any traction against the Wildcats' pitching, going down quietly in the third and fourth innings. Meanwhile, the Wildcats tacked on another run in the third, thanks to a leadoff triple from Faragon and an RBI single from Mondello.
In the fourth, the Wildcats added two more insurance runs. After Powell walked and a fielder's choice put a runner on first, Turk ripped an RBI triple to the gap in right, and Faragon brought her home with a sharp single to left, pushing the score to 11–0.
On the mound, Annabella Mondello was in control all afternoon. Houghton managed just three hits and stranded five runners.
