Schenectady, NY: The SUNY Cobleskill softball team swept Sunday's road doubleheader against Union College, using late-game rallies in both contests to come away with a pair of hard-fought victories.

Game One: Cobleskill 12, Union 9
The SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tigers clawed their way to a thrilling 12-9 win in the opener of the doubleheader against Union College, breaking a tie with a three-run rally in the top of the ninth to seal the deal in extra innings.

Aliyah Neeser (Forest Lake, Minn/Forest lake Area) had a career day at the plate, going 4-for-6 with a personal-best five RBIs, including clutch run-scoring singles in the second, sixth, and eighth innings. Jenna Smyczynski (East Aurora, NY) set the tone at the top of the order, going 2-for-5 with three runs scored and a stolen base.

Gabriella Wendelken (Stuyvesant, NY/Ichabod Crane) was the engine that kept Cobleskill running all game long, pitching all nine innings and stepping up with the bat as well. The first-year pitcher scattered 15 hits while allowing nine runs (eight earned), striking out four, and generating 19 flyouts to earn the win and move to 3-3 on the year. At the plate, she finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs, a run scored, and a pair of doubles, including an RBI double in the eighth and a sac fly in the ninth.

Mackenzie Wendelken (Stuyvesant, NY/Ichabod Crane) was delivered in the clutch, going 1-for-2 with two RBIs, two runs scored, and a walk-filled stat line that saw her reach base four times. Her biggest moment came in the ninth when she ripped a double down the right field line to bring in the go-ahead runs.

The Tigers jumped out to a fast start, scoring once in the first and exploding for five more in the second to build a 6-0 lead. The rally featured a sac fly from Kylie Rattigan (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington), an RBI double from Gabriella Wendelken, and a two-run single from Neeser.

Union chipped away, plating two runs in the third and erupting for four in the fifth to tie the game at 6-6. Cobleskill briefly regained the lead in the sixth on a fielder's choice, but Union again responded, leveling things at 7-7.

In the eighth, Cobleskill looked ready to close it out after a Wendelken double scored Smyczynski and Neeser followed with another RBI single to make it 9-7. Union, however, wouldn't back down, scoring twice to send the game into the ninth tied 9-9.

That's when the Tigers dug deep. After a hit-by-pitch and sac bunt, Mackenzie Wendelken cracked a two-run double down the line in right, scoring Kailee DiGiacco (Spencerport, NY) and Brielle Dixon (Millville, NJ). Gabby Wendelken followed with a sacrifice fly to bring in Rattigan and push the lead to 12-9.

Wendelken then returned to the circle and shut the door with a flyout, a strikeout looking, and another fly ball to center to end it.
 
 
Game Two: Cobleskill 4, Union 3
The Fighting Tigers proved they had plenty left in the tank in game two, rallying for three runs in the top of the seventh inning to steal a 4-3 win and complete the doubleheader sweep over Union College.

Leading the way was Gabriella Wendelken and Aliyah Neeser at the plate. Wendelken finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, continuing her strong day after game one. Neeser added two hits, one run scored, and an RBI. First-year outfielder Avery Prievo (Camden, NY) turned in a solid performance with two hits and an RBI. Jenna Smyczynski, Mackenzie Wendelken, Hannah Dean (Ripley, ME/Dexter), and Samantha Bargren (Wilmington, DE/Brandywine) all connected for one hit as the Tigers' bats tallied 10 total hits in the game.

On the mound, Madelynn Orosz (Seymour, CT/Nonneqaug) went the distance to improve to 4-1 on the season. She scattered nine hits, allowed three earned runs, and struck out two over seven strong innings to earn the complete-game win.

The Tigers struck first once again as Prievo singled through the left side for an RBI in the third inning, scoring Wendelken to give Cobleskill a 1-0 lead. Union answered back in the bottom of the inning, plating two runs to take a 2-1 lead. They tacked on a third run in the fourth to extend their advantage to 3-1.

Cobleskill showed their fighting spirit as they mounted their comeback in the top of the seventh inning. It all started with a Neeser single to left field that brought home Orosz. Dean followed with a single to score Wendelken and tie the game at 3-3. That set the stage for senior Kailee DiGiacco, who lifted a sac fly to left field, deep enough for Neeser to tag and score the go-ahead run.

Orosz stepped into the circle for the final three outs and shut the door on Union's comeback hopes, retiring the side with a pair of groundouts and a pop-up to complete the 4-3 win and the Cobleskill sweep.
 
Up Next:
The Tigers return to action on Friday, April 18, as they host SUNY Delhi in a North Atlantic Conference doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m. at the Fighting Tiger Park.