Cobleskill, N.Y.: The SUNY Cobleskill women's softball team continued their winning ways with a pair of exciting victories over visiting Union College on Wednesday afternoon in non-league action staging a dramatic 8-7 nine-inning comeback win over the Dutchwomen in the first game then taking a 5-3 decision in the nightcap in a five-inning contest. With the wins the Fighting Tigers improve to 10-1 overall on the year while Union now falls to 7-12.

In the opener the Fighting Tigers found themselves trailing 7-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning with two-outs and runners on first and second base and junior pitcher Erin Wadsworth, Valatie, N.Y., Ichabod Crane High School, coming to bat. With the count even at two balls and two strikes, Wadsworth played the hero for the home team blasting a game-tying three-run homer to send the game into extra innings.

Cobleskill then ended the contest in the bottom of the ninth inning when freshman first baseman Morgan Nichols, Syracuse, N.Y., West Genesee High School, worked a one-out bases loaded walk to drive in freshman second baseman Jamie Lord, Mechanicville, N.Y., Ballston Spa High School, with the game winner.
Erin Wadsworth was also stellar on the mound in the win for Cobleskill: pitching six innings of relief, allowing one earned run on six hits, striking out five and walking no one to improve her record to 3-1 on the year. The junior hurler was also 2-for-4 at the plate with four RBI and two runs scored in the win while junior catcher Madeline DeMilio, Valhalla, N.Y., Valhalla High School, was 2-for-3 with, a double, a home run, three runs scored and a RBI.

The Dutchwomen were led offensively by senior center fielder Camille Corbin, San Diego, Calf., Gilmour Academy, who was 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI and by senior pitcher Allyson Staats, Downers Grove, N.Y., Benet Academy, who was 3-for-5 with a run scored and a RBI.

In the nightcap the Fighting Tigers when freshman designated hitter/pitcher Morgan Nichols blasted a mammoth three-run first inning home run to stake the home team to a 3-0 lead.

However the Dutchwomen rallied in the top of the second to tie the contest with three-runs of their own highlighted by a two-run single by sophomore left fielder Brianne Godlewski, Wethersfield, Conn., Wethersfield High School, and a two-out run scoring single by freshman third baseman Courtney Casey, Somerville, Mass., Arlington Catholic High School.

Cobleskill then put two across in the bottom of the fourth to take a 5-3 lead on RBI singles by freshman shortstop Angela Fix, Livingston, N.Y., Germantown High School, and sophomore center fielder Gabrielle Barilli, Bellerose, N.Y., St. Francis Academy, which set up a dramatic finish.

With the tying runs on base and one out, Cobleskill brought in Morgan Nichols to relieve freshman starter Emily Anger, Atlanta, N.Y., Wayland-Cohocton High School, to stop the Dutchwomen.   

The Fighting Tigers rookie retired at final two hitters on a pop-up to short and a fly-out to center to record her first save of the year and to extend the team's current winning streak to nine games.

The Orange & Black will next be in action on Wednesday April 15 when they return to North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) play with a home doubleheader against Cazenovia College beginning at 4:00 p.m. while Union will next play Clarkson University in Liberty League play for a pair of  home games at Alexander Field on Thursday April 16 beginning at 3:30 p.m.