Cobleskill, NY – The SUNY Cobleskill softball team remained unbeaten in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) West Division play on Friday afternoon, sweeping a home doubleheader against VTSU-Johnson in commanding fashion. The Tigers slugged their way to a 19-11 six-inning victory in game one, then kept the bats hot in an 11-2 five-inning win in game two.
Game One: Cobleskill 19, VTSU-Johnson 11 (6 Innings)
In a wild opener filled with fireworks, Cobleskill erupted for a season-high 20 hits and a game-changing nine-run fifth inning to take control of a back-and-forth contest.
Aliyah Neeser (Forest Lake, Minn.) was on fire, going 3-for-5 with a double, four RBIs, and four runs scored.
Kylie Rattigan (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington) and
Jenna Smyczynski (East Aurora, NY) each finished 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, with Smyczynski swiping two bags. First-year standout
Avery Prievo (Camden, NY) added a 3-for-5 effort with two RBIs, two runs, and a double.
Gabriella Wendelken (Stuyvesant, NY/Ichabod Crane) chipped in with two hits, three RBIs, and three runs scored, while
Hannah Dean (Ripley, ME/Dexter) collected two hits of her own.
Jaydaci Chamberlain (Northborough, Mass/Norfolk Country Ag.) made the most of her first career hit – a clutch triple that drove in two runs.
Wendelken got the start in the circle, tossing 4.2 innings and striking out eight while allowing nine runs (two earned) on 11 hits. Chamberlain (2-2) earned the win in relief, working 1.1 innings and giving up just one run on two hits.
Johnson got off to a fast start, jumping ahead 2-0 in the top of the first, but the Tigers answered with a five-spot in the bottom half. Gabby Wendelken singled home Rattigan before Neeser ripped a double to right that brought in both Wendelken sisters.
After a Johnson grand slam tied the game 6-6 in the third, Cobleskill responded with runs in the third and fourth to retake the lead. The game broke wide open in the fifth as the Tigers batted around, plating nine runs on six hits. Neeser added two more RBIs, Chamberlain crushed her triple to score Prievo, and Rattigan capped the frame with an RBI single for a 17-10 advantage.
The Tigers ended it early in the sixth, capitalizing on a Johnson error to bring in two runs before
Laci Prignon (Dryden, NY) singled to score Neeser and seal the run-rule victory.
Game Two: Cobleskill 11, VTSU-Johnson 2 (5 Innings)
Game two saw the Tigers waste no time keeping the offense rolling, pounding out 15 hits in a five-inning rout to complete the sweep.
Neeser continued her tear at the plate, blasting her third home run of the season and finishing 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI.
Samantha Bargren (Wilmington, DE/Brandywine) was a perfect 3-for-3, while Prievo stayed locked in with a 3-for-3 effort that included two doubles, two RBIs, and a run scored.
Mackenzie Wendelken (Stuyvesant, NY/Ichabod Crane) drove in a pair of runs, and senior
Kailee DiGiacco (Spencerport, NY) led the game with three RBIs.
Madelynn Orosz (Seymour, CT/Nonnewaug) went the distance in the circle, striking out six while allowing just two runs on three hits to improve to 8-2 on the year.
Much like the opener, Johnson took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Tigers responded immediately. Prievo roped a double to score Neeser and Rattigan, tying the game at 2-2. Cobleskill added solo tallies in the second and third, with Neeser launching a solo shot to extend the lead.
In the fourth, Rattigan brought in a run with a sacrifice fly, and
Mackenzie Wendelken followed with a two-run single for a 7-2 edge. The Tigers closed it out in the fifth as
Brielle Dixon drove home Prievo with a single, and DiGiacco emptied the bases with a three-run double to walk it off via the eight-run rule.
Up Next:
Cobleskill will wrap up the weekend series against VTSU-Johnson tomorrow with the first pitch at 12:00 p.m.
