EXPRESS SLAM WAY TO DOUBLE-HEADER SWEEP

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. - Paige Stone homered twice and Lorelei Meier and Aly Mann each pitched two sensational games as the Wells College softball team defeated the Johnson State College Badgers 7-1 and 6-2 on Wednesday afternoon at the Adirondack Sports Complex in Queensbury, N.Y. 

In game one, Stone finished 3-3 with a homerun and two RBI. Shannon Blanford finished 2-3 with a run scored, Stephanie Davis finished 2-2 with a double and one RBI, and Mann finished 2-4 with a double. Meier tossed a complete game, scattering five hits, allowing one unearned run while striking out 12 to earn the victory.

The Express struck first in the bottom of the second. With one out Charlee Weidman belted a double to left, stole third and came across for the game's first run on a dropped third strike that forced the catch to throw down to first for the out. Stone came to the plate with two outs and delivered her first career homerun, a solo shot to left to give Wells a 2-0 lead.

The Badgers trimmed the lead one in the top of fourth, but the Express came alive in the bottom half plating three runs to take a commanding 5-1 lead. Meier took over from there, holding the Badgers scoreless the rest of the way as the Express cruised to their third straight victory.

Game two was a classic pitcher's duel. The Badgers struck in the top of the second scoring one run on a hit and an error.

The Express came back to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth. With the bases loaded, Blanford shot a groundball up the middle plating Weidman. However, the Badgers battled out of the bases loaded jam without allowing another run to preserve the 1-1 tie.

Wells took the lead the very next inning. Alyssa Acquaviva drew a walk, advanced to second on an attempted pickoff by the catcher and took third on a wild pitch. Mann came to the plate and singled to left driving in Acquaviva for the go ahead run.

The Badgers responded in the top of the sixth plating the tying run. The Express went down in the sixth without a run and Mann pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the 7^th to set the stage for Stone in the bottom half.

The Badger's struggled to find the strike zone, walking the first three batters to bring Stone to the plate. She took the first pitch and then sent the second pitch over the left field fence for a walk-off grand slam giving Wells their fourth straight victory and the double-header sweep.

Mann paced the Express in game two going 2-3 with an RBI while tossing a complete game, giving up five hits, two earned runs while striking out seven. Blanford rounded out the highlights finishing 2-3 with an RBI.

The Express return to action on Tuesday when they take on Keuka College at 3 pm and 5 pm in Aurora, N.Y. 

Watch Paige Stone's walk-off grand slam below: