COBLESKILL, N.Y. — The SUNY Cobleskill softball team opened Saturday's North Atlantic Conference Senior Day doubleheader with a 6-5 walk-off victory over Lesley University, rallying for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win at Fighting Tiger Park.
Game One: The Fighting Tigers fell behind 5-3 heading into the final frame after Lesley plated four runs in the top of the sixth, but Cobleskill answered with a decisive seventh-inning rally to close out the opener and remain unbeaten at home in conference play.
Sammy Fausti set the tone early, tripling to lead off the bottom of the first and scoring on a
Kylie Rattigan sacrifice fly to put the Tigers on the board. The offense continued to click in the second, when a Rattigan two-run double, her second extra-base hit of the game, extended Cobleskill's lead to 3-1. Rattigan finished the game 1-for-3 with a double, three RBI, and a sacrifice fly.
Aliyah Neeser delivered the biggest individual performance at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. The left fielder reached base in all four plate appearances and provided a consistent middle-of-the-order presence throughout the lineup. Fausti was equally dynamic at the top of the order, finishing 2-for-3 with a triple, a walk, and three runs scored. Her ability to reach base and manufacture runs proved pivotal in both the early lead and the seventh-inning comeback.
With Cobleskill trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Fausti walked to start the inning and moved to second on a fielder's choice by Rattigan.
Avery Prievo then reached on a throwing error, loading the bases. Neeser's two-run double tied the game, and
Gabriella Wendelken followed with a sacrifice fly to score Prievo with the winning run, completing the comeback.
Wendelken earned the win in relief, entering in the sixth inning and tossing 1.1 innings of scoreless work.
Jaydaci Chamberlain started and worked 5.2 innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits while striking out two.
Game Two: Gabriella Wendelken was nothing short of dominant in the nightcap, spinning a complete-game shutout as SUNY Cobleskill blanked Lesley University 3-0 to complete the NAC doubleheader sweep at Fighting Tiger Park. Wendelken went the distance in seven innings, allowing just five hits and no runs while striking out six batters without issuing a single walk. The right-hander retired the side in order three times and held Lesley scoreless through all seven frames, improving her season record to 5-4 with a shutout. Wendelken also contributed at the plate, delivering a two-run double in the sixth inning that broke open a scoreless game and proved to be the decisive blow. Her double to left scored
Aliyah Neeser and
Avery Prievo to put Cobleskill up 3-0, capping a three-run sixth-inning rally.
Fausti continued her strong afternoon in the leadoff spot, reaching base via a walk and eventually scoring on a Neeser RBI single to open the scoring in the sixth. Neeser drove in the first run before Wendelken cleared the bases with her two-run double. Neeser finished the game 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, giving her four RBI across the two games combined.
Cobleskill's defense was sharp in support of Wendelken, recording just one error as
Laci Prignon anchored the infield at shortstop. The Tigers moved to 13-14 overall and 4-4 in the NAC conference, pulling even in the conference standings with a dominant home sweep.
UP NEXT: The Fighting Tigers return to Fighting Tiger Park on Tuesday, April 21 to host Union College in a home doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM
