Virginia Beach, Va.: The SUNY Cobleskill women's softball team escaped the recent cold weather spell in the region to open the 2018 season at the Virginia Wesleyan Beach Blast on Friday. The Fighting Tigers dropped a pair of contests to Rhode Island College by a 15-4 margin and to SUNY Fredonia by a score of 2-1 to open the campaign at 0-2.
 
In the opener the Fighting Tiger defense showed their lack of outside play committing six errors which led to seven unearned runs enough to give the Giants the victory.
 
Sophomore center fielder Brianna Murphy, Yonkers, N.Y., Yonkers Montessori School, posted a strong outing going 2-for-3 with a triple, three RBI, a run scored and a stolen base operating out of the lead-off spot with junior second baseman Georgiana Crisci, Newburgh, N.Y., Valley Central High School, going 2-for-3 with an RBI in the contest.
 
In the nightcap, Cobleskill trailed 2-0 going into the top of the sixth inning when senior designated hitter Hannah Hoffman, Troy, N.Y., Averill Park High School, Hudson Valley Community College, singled home sophomore right fielder Quesha Sells, Cobleskill, N.Y., Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, with two outs to cut the lead to 2-1.
 
However that was as close as the Orange & Black would come despite out hitting the Blue Devils 7-to-5 on the afternoon they could not produce the runs needed to support a strong pitching outing by freshman Rachel Hall, Greenwich, N.Y., Greenwich High School, who went six innings allowing only two earned runs, only one of which was earned.
 
Hannah Hoffman led the team offensively going 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and the team's only run batted in while Quesha Sells finished the game 2-for-3 with a run scored.
 
The Fighting Tigers will close out the beach blast on Saturday, March 10, when the meet SUNY Potsdam at 10:00 a.m. before taking on SUNY New Paltz at 2:00 p.m.