SOFTBALL OPENS SEASON WITH DOUBLE-HEADER SWEEP OF GREEN MOUNTAIN

QUEENSBURG, N.Y. - The Wells College women's softball team opened up the 2012 season with a double-header sweep of Green Mountain College, topping the Eagles 2-0 and 14-4 to earn the sweep Wednesday afternoon at the Adirondack Sports Complex in Queensbury, NY. With the victory the Express improve to 2-0 while Green Mountain falls to 0-2.

The first game was a classic pitcher's duel between the Eagles' Cass Neimeth-Lazar (Red Hook, NY) and the Express' Lorelei Meier (Caledonia, NY). Neimeth-Lazar spun a gem, pitching a complete game four-hitter in which she struck out 10 and walked only three.  Unfortunately, Meier outpitched her with her own complete game in which she only gave up three hits while striking out nine and walking two batters.

The Express got on the scoreboard early in the first inning. After Juli Vibbard (Burlington Flats, NY) doubled to the gap in left, she scored when GMC catcher Emily Heale's (East Bethany, NY) throw to nab Vibbard stealing third sailed away from the third base bag.

The other Wells run was a result of a passed ball after third baseman Charlee Weidman had singled to center, stole second base and then advanced to third on a groundout.

In the nightcap, the hitter's bats came alive as the teams totaled 18 runs and 22 hits.  Wells scored early and often in the second game, tallying runs in every inning except the fifth.  After three innings of play, the Express had built up an 8-0 cushion, but in the bottom of the third, the Eagles were able to put together a string of good at bats which resulted in four runners crossing the plate, narrowing the gap to 8-4.

Unfortunately, that would be the end of the scoring for the Eagles as the Express would tack on six more runs to put the game out of reach.

Six Express players notched multi-hit games in the nightcap. Shortstop Alyssa Acquaviva (New Hartford, NY) led the way with a 3-for-4 afternoon as she smacked a double and drove in a game-high three runs.  Vibbard was 3-for-5 with two RBI and Meier had two hits in three plate appearances while also driving in a pair. Catcher Paige Stone (Madison, NY) showed the power on the afternoon by hitting two doubles, and first bagger Kelly Cornwell (Caledonia, NY) went deep for her first homerun of the year.

Pitcher Emma Lord (Greenville, NY) paced the Eagles offense with a 2-for-3 day at the dish and added a walk.  Centerfielder Chanleigh Casey (Hartford, NY) had only one hit on the day as she went 1-for-3, but the hit was a clutch one as she drove in two runs.  Shortstop Chelsea Paul (Northville, NY) and Neimeth-Lazar were the other Eagles to tally an RBI each.

The Express return to action tomorrow when they take on Johnson State College in double-header slated for 12 pm and 2 pm at the Adirondack Sports Complex in Queensbury, NY. 

Release Courtesy of Green Mountain College Sports Information