HAMBURG, N.Y. – Finally, a beautiful day in Buffalo gave way to a competitive double header softball game this afternoon between visiting Penn State Altoona and Hilbert College.
The Hawks took on the AMCC league leading Lions and slipped in the first game 5-2 before they fell 17-5 in the late afternoon contest.
Hilbert went through three pitchers in the night cap after playing tough with two in the first game. Altoona's Kate Burge stood strong in the circle for all 13 innings today to lift the Lions to a 10-0 AMCC record and to 19-5 overall.
Anndrea Quiroga's triple in the fourth knotted the game at 2-2 in the opening game. But then Altoona jumped ahead in the fifth inning with a three-run burst to build a 5-2 lead which they carried to the final out.
Victoria Dzaak held the Lions in check the final three innings collecting three strike outs while allowing only one hit.
Jaelyn Gotham took the loss giving up three earned runs from eight hits.
Hilbert started fast in the second game. After containing the Lion hitters in the top of the 1st,
Brittany Cooley hit her first collegiate home run to center field.
Altoona responded with a single run in the second and a pair on the top of the 3rd to take a 3-1 lead.
The Hawks found their hitting stride with back-to-back doubles by
Hannah Prenoveau and
Morgan Grosch (RBI).
Jenna Castricone stepped the plate and hit her first home run this season to help Hilbert retake the lead, 4-3.
Things started to unravel for the hosts in the 4th when Altoona collected four runs off six hits and one error.
Rachel Allen gave the ball to Dzaak with two outs and she delivered a fly-out to center field to get the Hawks back in the dugout.
No movement around the bags occurred for either team until the top of the 6th. Dzaak faced six batters, gave up five hits and retired to dug out when Gotham relieved her with the score 9-4.
The Lions dinged singles the rest of the inning before they closed with a 17-4 score.
Crystal Hailey singled to right field which set-up a double steal for her and
Alexandria Wankel. Wankel advanced home on a third baseman error for the final run of the day.
Eight different players notched a hit in the night cap with two Hawks hitting homeruns.
With sunny and pleasant temperatures expected again tomorrow, the Hawks will host Mount Aloysius College in another AMCC double header. Hilbert will be the AWAY team and the Mounties will have their last ups since this is a make-up game from earlier this month down in Cresson, PA. First pitch is set for 12 noon.
