April 27, 2004

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

Garden City, N.Y. - The Adelphi softball team split with the University of Bridgeport, dropping the first game 4-1, before rallying back in game two, 5-2. The Panthers finish the regular season 23-16-1 overall and 19-4-1 in the NYCAC. The Purple Knights are 24-18 and 13-11 in the NYCAC.

Offensively, the Panthers were led by junior Tara Rice who was for 6-7 including a double and a RBI and junior Theresa Kotulak who was 3-5 with a homerun and two RBI.

Game One - Adelphi struggled from the start, as Bridgeport scored on an error in the first inning. The Panthers managed just one hit over the next three innings. The Purple Knights hammered a two-run homer in the fourth inning to open its lead to 3-0. UB extended its lead to 4-0 on a solo homerun in the top of the seventh. Adelphi got on board in the bottom of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Amy Delmore which brought in a runner. But it was not enough as the Panthers fell, 4-1. Senior Jamie Pietrantoni (6-5) took the loss on the mound.

Adelphi had one run on five hits with two errors. Bridgeport had four runs on six hits with no errors.

Game Two - The Panthers rallied in game two, getting on board in the first inning. Junior Ivy Klein walked, then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Christina Semey before reaching third on a basehit by freshman Kristina LoCastro. Rice singled bringing home Klein. The Purple Knights fought back, scoring two runs in the fourth to take the lead. The Panthers came alive in the sixth, as Kotulak belted her sixth homerun of the season to tie the game. Two more runs put the Panthers up for good as they held on for the win, 5-2. Sophomore pitcher Carla Buonviaggio (8-6) recorded the win. She was also 2-3 with an RBI in the game.

The Panthers had five runs on 12 hits and two errors. The Purple Knights had two runs on four hits with one error.

With the loss in the first game, Adelphi drops to second in the NYCAC, barely missing the NYCAC Regular season title. Tomorrow the Panthers travel to Dowling College to complete the 1-1 tie game that was called in the sixth inning due to darkness back on March 24. A win will assure them a second place seed in the NYCAC Tournament, while a loss drops them to third.

The NYCAC Tournament begins this Friday, April 30, with games hosted at both Molloy College and C.W. Post. Final seeding will be determined after tomorrow's games.