Cobleskill, N.Y.: The SUNY Cobleskill softball team made its long-awaited return to Fighting Tiger Park on Friday afternoon falling in often delayed home opener to the visiting Wildcats of the SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) by a 7-2 margin in a game between the two programs sitting on top of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Western Division standings. With the loss the Fighting Tigers fall to 9-11 overall including a 5-1 record in conference action while the Wildcats are now 17-6 overall with a 11-0 record versus league opponents.
 
The Fighting Tigers trailed 5-0 in the bottom of the sixth when senior first baseman Alexis Miranda, Nashua, N.H., Nashua High School, belted a long sacrifice fly to score junior centerfielder Alexia Clemons, Beaver Falls, N.Y., Beaver River High School, to make it 5-1 Wildcats.
 
After SUNY Poly pushed across a pair of unearned runs in the top of the seventh, Cobleskill responded with a run when first-year third baseman Gianna Guido, Clifton Park, N.Y., Shenendehowa High School, doubled off the centerfield fence and later scored on an infield single by first-year right fielder Jenna Smyczynski, East Aurora, N.Y., East Aurora High School, to make it 7-2.
 
Cobleskill subsequently loaded the bases with one out but could not push a run across the plate giving the Wildcats the victory on the strength of senior right hander Trinity Critelli's, Frankfort, N.Y., Frankfort-Schuyler High School, 14 strikeout effort for the visitors.
 
The two teams will clod out their weekend NAC series on Saturday, April 20, with a doubleheader at Fighting Tiger Park beginning at 12:00 p.m.