Melbourne, Fla.: The SUNY Cobleskill softball team returned to action on Thursday splitting a pair of games at the 2024 Space Coast Invitational opening the day with a 5-4 extra inning victory over the Eagles of the University of Fort Lauderdale then closing the day with a 3-0 shutout loss to the Broncos of Hastings College. With the split the Fighting Tigers move to 2-4 overall on the season while the University of Fort Lauderdale is now 18-16 overall on the season and Hastings is currently 12-10 on the year.
 
In the opener versus the Eagles of the University of Fort Lauderdale, who are one of the top program's in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), the Fighting Tigers struck first opening the game with a pair of first inning runs on a two-run double by first-year centerfielder Aliya Nesser, Forest Lake Area High School.
 
After the Eagles tied the score at 2-2, Cobleskill regained the lead in the top of the third inning with two runs on sacrifice flies by junior designated player Mackenzie Wendelken, Stuyvesant, N.Y., Ichabod Crane High School, and Aliya Nesser to make it 4-2.
 
Fort Lauderdale tied the contest at 4-4 with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and from that point through the seventh inning neither team could score sending the game into extra innings.
 
In the top of the eighth first-year second baseman Kylie Rattigan, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Arlington High School, was placed at second base under the international tie breaker rule and was sacrificed to third by senior first baseman Alexis Miranda, Nashua, N.Y., Nashua High School. Rattigan then scored the eventual winning run on a one-out single by Mackenzie Wendelken as the Fighting Tigers blanked the Eagles in the eighth.
 
First-year pitcher Madelynn Orosz, Seymour, Ct., Nonnewaug High School, went the distance to record her first collegiate victory allowing four earned runs on 10 hits.
 
In the second game versus the Broncos the Fighting Tigers were held in check by Hastings' junior right hander Angelina Lockhart, Jber, Ark., Bartlett High School, who limited the Fighting Tigers to only three hits while striking out four and walking only two.
 
Cobleskill junior starter Jaydaci Chamberlain, Nothborough, Mass., Norfolk County Agricultural High School, was the hard-luck loser turning in another strong outing going the full seven innings allowing three earned runs on 10 hits while striking out one hitter and walking only one.
 
Cobleskill will close out the 2024 Space Coast Invitational on Friday March 22 with a doubleheader versus the Crusaders of Dallas Christian College beginning at 10:00 a.m.