The SUNY Poly softball team split its afternoon doubleheader with Elmira College, taking game one 2–0 behind a no-hitter from Trinity Critelli before falling 10–1 in game two. With the split, the Wildcats move to 18–11 on the season.
GAME ONE:
Both teams struggled to generate early offense. Elmira went down in order multiple times, as Trinity Critelli dominated in the circle, not allowing the Soaring Eagles to register one hit. SUNY Poly got early baserunners from Shelbi Hagues—who finished with three hits on the day—but couldn't capitalize in the first and third innings, stranding runners in scoring position.
Elmira's best chance came in the top of the third with a runner on third. But Critelli ended the threat, fanning the batter to end the inning.
The game remained locked in a scoreless tie until the bottom of the sixth. After Jadyn Childers led off with a walk and advanced on a groundout, Joely Welpe came through with the game's biggest hit—a double to left field that brought in the go-ahead run. Jillian O'Connor followed with a walk, and a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. Trinity Critelli then grounded out to the pitcher, allowing Welpe to score and double the SUNY Poly lead to 2–0.
Elmira had no answer to Critelli's dominance, as she would put them down in order in the seventh with three consecutive strikeouts to end the game and secure the no-hitter.
GAME TWO:
Elmira wasted no time jumping on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning, capitalizing on early command issues to take control of the game. After leadoff batter Ashlyn Vanfleet was hit by a pitch, Brianna Ramstine followed with an RBI double to open the scoring. Elmira showed patience at the plate, drawing three walks in the inning, including a bases-loaded walk that brought in a second run.
The Wildcats tried to answer in the bottom half with a two-out double from Kimberly Birmingham, but Elmira's defense held strong. The Soaring Eagles added another run in the second, sparked by Ramstine's second double of the day and a two-out RBI double by Katie Distefano to make it 3–0.
Elmira's offense continued to chip away in the fifth. Sophia Temple's leadoff single and Colwill's RBI double extended the lead to 4–0. Riley Storrs drove in another run with a base hit, and a single by Rachel Lunger set up another scoring opportunity, but Elmira left two stranded.
SUNY Poly found life in the bottom of the fifth. Back-to-back singles set up Ava Faragon, who delivered an RBI single to get the Wildcats on the board, 5–1. But Elmira's defense stiffened, ending the inning with the bases loaded.
Elmira responded immediately, scoring two more in the sixth. A sac fly by Colwill and an RBI single from pinch hitter Kristen Cole extended the lead to 7–1. The Soaring Eagles tacked on three more in the seventh, to make it 10-1.
SUNY Poly couldn't muster a comeback in the seventh, going down in order as Elmira sealed the win.