Utica, N.Y. – The SUNY Poly softball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader against SUNY Geneseo on Sunday afternoon, falling 5–2 in game one and 7–1 in game two. With the losses, the Wildcats fall to 7-13 on the season.
GAME ONE:
Game one opened as a pitcher's duel, with both teams held off the scoreboard through the first two innings. SUNY Poly's defense was sharp early, highlighted by multiple groundouts, while Geneseo matched with clean innings of their own.
Geneseo broke through in the third inning when Molly Griffin launched a solo home run to give the Knights a 1–0 lead.
The Wildcats threatened in the bottom half of the inning, as Shelbi Hagues singled, but Geneseo worked out of the inning to maintain the advantage.
SUNY Poly found an answer in the fifth inning when Kelly Powell delivered a solo home run to even the score at 1–1.
Geneseo responded in the sixth, capitalizing on a leadoff walk and advancing the runner with a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly brought in the go-ahead run before a SUNY Poly error and an RBI single extended the lead to 3–1.
The Knights added insurance in the seventh inning, stringing together three hits, including a home run and an RBI triple, to push the lead to 5–1.
SUNY Poly attempted a late rally in the bottom of the seventh. Annabella Mondello doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Powell, but the Wildcats were unable to generate further offense as Geneseo secured the 5–2 victory.
GAME TWO:
Geneseo struck first in game two, taking advantage of an early SUNY Poly error in the opening inning to grab a 1–0 lead.
The Wildcats responded in the second inning, as Joely Welpe doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Taylor Scranton to tie the game at 1–1.
The game remained tight until the fourth inning, when Geneseo broke things open. Taking advantage of multiple SUNY Poly errors, the Knights plated four runs, highlighted by a three-run home run from Griffin to take a 5–1 lead.
Geneseo continued to apply pressure in the sixth inning, adding two more runs on a pair of RBI hits to extend the advantage to 7–1.
SUNY Poly had a few chances offensively, including doubles from Welpe and Scranton and a late single from Kelly Powell, but were unable to string together enough offense to close the gap.
Geneseo held the Wildcats scoreless over the final innings to complete the sweep with a 7–1 win.
