HAMBURG, N.Y. – The Hilbert College softball team had a chance to grab a night-cap win over Alfred University, but the wheels fell off the wagon as the Saxons scored five runs in the top of the 7th to win, 11-4. AU captured an opening game 9-1 in 7 innings for the sweep over the Hawks.
After giving up a grand slam hit in the first inning of the night-cap, Hilbert recovered and tied the game up at 4-4 in the bottom of the 3rd. Alfred added a pair of runs in the top of the 4th but Hilbert was always there, knocking on the door.
Anndrea Quiroga tripled in the 5th but was stranded as both teams went scoreless through the 5th and 6th innings.
Alfred put together a string of runs in the top of the 7th for the win.
Morgan McNeill doubled to center field and knocked in the Hawks first run in the 2nd inning.
Then in the third, McNeill hit a single RBI scoring
Alexandria Wankel. McNeill moved from second base to home on a
Jenna Castricone fielder's choice hit which tagged Grosch out at home. The Saxons, attempting to throw Castricone out at first mishandled the throw and McNeill beat everyone to the plate. And on the next play, Castricone stole second beating a throw-down as Quiroga sprinted home for the game tying run.
McNeill went 2-for-3 and picked a runner off at first base, her first of the season.
When not spending time in the dirt,
Morgan Grosch was busy hitting the ball in the opening game.
Alfred got on the board in the first inning as Hilbert matched their effort in the second to force a 1-1 score at the top of the 3rd.
The Saxons then posted three runs in the 3rd and four runs in the 4th to build an 8-1 lead. It wasn't until the top of the 7th that AU added their final run for the 9-1 win.
Hilbert had back-to-back hits in the 2nd inning, putting a pair of runners on the bases. Grosch single to third base and
Amanda Hucksoll singled to center. Hucksoll stole second base and Grosch scored for the only run of the game.
Grosch went 3-for-3 as she, Hucksoll and Wankel earned the only Hilbert hits in game one.
Victoria Dzaak took the opening game loss with 3.2 innings of work and
Rachel Allen toughed-out the night cap loss with 6.1 innings in the circle.
Jaelyn Gotham closed both games giving up one run in each game.
The Hawks turn around and host cross-town rival D'Youville College (12-2 AMCC) on April 27 in their final home game of the 2016 season.
