Cobleskill, N.Y.: The SUNY Cobleskill women's softball team returned to the friendly confines of Fighting Tiger Park for their 2021 home opener on Tuesday afternoon to sweep a doubleheader versus the visiting Pioneers of Alfred State College. Cobleskill out slugged the visitors by scores of 11-6 and 10-8 in non-conference play to post the victories. With the wins the Fighting Tigers improve to 2-2 overall on the season while the Pioneers are now 2-8 on the year.

In the opener, Cobleskill jumped out to a 9-0 lead after four innings and appeared to have the game well in hand until a number of Fighting Tiger defensive miscues led to six unearned runs by Alfred State in the top of the fifth inning to make an apparent runaway victory a close game again.

However, the Fighting Tigers tacked on two important runs down the stretch and held the visitors scoreless over the final two frames to secure their first win of the season.

The offense was led by junior right fielder Alyssa Villielm, Rifton, N.Y., Kingston High School, who went 3-for-4 from the lead-off spot with a double, an RBI and three runs scored and by junior third baseman Maya Davies, Binghamton, N.Y., Chenango Valley High School/Onondaga Community College, who went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in the win.

Junior pitcher Victoria Decker, Stone Ridge, N.Y., Rondout Valley High School, was credited with the win allowing six unearned runs on only two hits while striking out three and walking two. Senior Edyliese Aquino, Stamford, Conn., Westhill High School, earned a save by hurling two plus innings of scoreless relief while going 1-for-2 at the plate with a double, two RBI and a run scored.

In the nightcap with the score tied at 8-8 in the bottom of the sixth inning with one out and runners on first and second; Fighting Tiger Head Coach Liz Slupinski brought Maya Davies off the bench to pinch hit and the junior slugger delivered a double to left center field which scored junior pitcher/first baseman Arielle Kranbuhl, Boonville, N.Y., Adirondack High School, and Edyliese Aquino with the eventual winning runs.

Freshman hurler Marissa Wheeler, Kinderhook, N.Y., Ichabod Crane High School, pitched three innings of relief allowing two earned runs and recording four strikeouts to post her first collegiate win for the Orange & Black.

 Cobleskill will return to action over the weekend when they travel to Cazenovia, N.Y. to open the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) with a pair of doubleheaders versus the Wildcats of Cazenovia College on Saturday and Sunday at Veterans Field beginning at 1:00 p.m.