STONE PROPELS EXPRESS TO GAME TWO VICTORY

Aurora, N.Y.- Paige Stone (Madison, N.Y./Madison) knocked an RBI double in the bottom half of the sixth inning, giving the Wells College softball team a come from behind, 6-5, victory over rival Cazenovia College in game two of their North Eastern Athletic Conference double-header on Sunday afternoon in Aurora, N.Y. The Express fell to Cazenovia 10-0 (5 inn.) in game one. With the split the Express improve to 7-7 (6-4 NEAC), while Cazenovia falls to 9-6 (8-4 NEAC).

Brittany Stanton (Deposit, N.Y./Deposit) paced the Express on the day going 3 for 6, including two hits in game two. Christine Nichols led the Wildcats of Cazenovia with five hits and two RBI on the day.

Game one was owned by the Wildcats from start to finish as they would jump out to a 5-0 lead after the first, adding two in the third and three in the fourth, running away with the 10-0 victory in the five inning run rule shortened game. Joanna Gilford paced Cazenovia in game one, hitting a perfect 3-3, scoring three runs, while driving in four. Alyssa Boswell earned the shutout victory, hurling five innings, while scattering six hits and striking out one.

Game two looked to be headed to the same result as the Wildcats jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top half of the first. The Express fired back in the bottom half as Rebekah Coons (Voorheesville, N.Y./Voorheesville) reached on an error at third base, while singles by Lorelei Meier (Caledonia, N.Y./Caledonia-Mumford), Kelly Cornwell (Caledonia, N.Y./Caledonia-Mumford), and Stanton plated three runs, tying the game 3-3.

The Wildcats responded in the second, knocking in two runs, on two hits, to take a 5-3 lead.

Wells broke the bats out in the fourth, as back-to-back singles by Stone and Juli Vibbard (Burlington Flats, N.Y./Edmeston) put runners on first and second with two out. The very next batter, Coons, laced a two run double, tying the game 5-5.

The Wildcats threatened in the top of the sixth, putting runners at first and third with one out. Kim Norton hit what looked to be a sacrifice fly to right but, Express outfielder Savanna Duh (S. Bound Brook, N.J./S. Bound Brook) came through gunning out pinch runner Colleen Chudick at home, preserving the 5-5 tie.

Wells ran with the momentum from there as Stone drove home the go ahead and eventual game winning run, in the bottom half of the sixth to earn the NEAC split.

Meier earned the win on the mound for the Express tossing seven innings, allowing five earned runs on eight hits, while striking out four.

The Express return to action on Tuesday against non-conference opponent Keystone College at 3:00 p.m. in Aurora, N.Y.