Cobleskill, N.Y warm sunny skies the N.:  Underneath orth Eastern Athletic Conference's (NEAC) North and South Division Softball leaders clashed at Fighting Tiger Park on Saturday as the home standing SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tigers and the Nittany Lions of Penn State Abington battled for the first time this season with Cobleskill taking the pair league contests by scores of 5-3 and 3-2.  With the wins the Fighting Tigers are now 11-11 overall including a 8-4 mark in NEAC action while the Nittany Lions fall to 12-17 overall including a 7-3 mark in conference action.

In the first game, the Fighting Tigers used a second inning four-run outburst highlighted by a two run homer by senior third baseman Mackenzie Holbert, Sauquoit, N.Y., New Hartford High School/Herkimer Community College, to jump out to a 4-0 lead.

After the Nittany Lions responded with a three-run third inning; Cobleskill tacked on a run in the fourth when, freshman second baseman Alyssa Villielm, Rifton, N.Y., Kingston High School, doubled then advanced to third on a bunt single by junior left fielder Quesha Sells, Cobleskill, N.Y., Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, and scored on a RBI groundout by freshman center fielder Jillian Nichman, Ballston Spa, N.Y., Ballston Spa High School, to secure the final margin of victory.

At the plate, Mackenzie Holbert finished 1-for-3 with a homer, a run scored and two RBI with Alyssa Villielm going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored and senior catcher Gabrielle Danthine, Sloansville, N.Y., Schoharie High School, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and a RBI.

Fighting Tiger ace lefty Rachel Hall, Greenwich, N.Y., Greenwich High School, recorded the victory going the full seven innings allowing three earned runs on seven hits while striking out two and walking only one.  

In the nightcap with the game tied 2-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning; the Fighting Tiger scored the eventual game winning run when third baseman Mackenzie Holbert singled with one out and then advance to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman shortstop Megan Gilligan, East Chatham, N.Y., East Chatham High School. That bought up second baseman Alyssa Villielm who promptly blooped a double into left center field to score Holbert and give Cobleskill the lead for good.

Offensively for the home team Villielm finished the day 1-for-4 with the game winning RBI while left fielder Quesha Sells went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and a RBI. Holbert was 1-for-3 with the game winning run with Gilligan going 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored.

Freshman pitcher Victoria Decker, Stone Ridge, N.Y., Rondout Valley High School, earned her first collegiate win in the contest pitching three scoreless innings of relief while scattering two hits on the day.

The Orange & Black will next be in action on Tuesday April 16^th when Cobleskill travels to Troy, N.Y., for a pair of non-conference contests with the Gators of Sage College beginning at 3:00 p.m.