Softball Set Down By SUNY Canton In Season-Opening DH

AURORA, N.Y. – Playing their first two games of the season due to numerous postponements, the Wells College softball team posted back-to-back losses to the Kangaroos of SUNY Canton Thursday afternoon at the Wells College softball field. With a 9-2 loss in the opener and an 18-2 rout in the finale, the Express fall to 0-2 overall on the season while SUNY Canton, who plays an independent schedule, improves to 9-11.

In the opener, the Express allowed the Kangaroos to score the first two runs in the contest via a second inning home run by catcher Hallie Fenti to place the visitors ahead by a 2-0 margin. Wells was able to counter with a run in the home half of the third inning as freshman Marie Valliere (Chicopee, Mass.) scampered home on a throwing error by Fenti.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Kangaroos touched starting pitcher Lorelei Meier (Caledonia, N.Y.) for four runs. Following an infield hit by center fielder Nicole Mulieri, she was driven in by first baseman Tina DeLuca for her team's third run of the contest. A throwing error by the Express preceded a single, a hit by pitch and two RBI singles stoked the Kangaroos' rally.

A double by Jessica Rhodes in the visiting half of the seventh inning added on two additional runs to increase the score to 9-1. In the bottom of the seventh, the Express tacked on a run following an RBI double by freshman Kylie Nishioka (Encinitas, Calif.) for the second Wells run.

Meier (0-1) draws her first loss of the season, striking out six batters in six innings of work. Meier only allowed five earned runs while limiting her walks, allowing only three free passes. Allie Gibson earned the win for SUNY Canton, striking out nine batters and allowing only one earned run.

In the contest, freshman Lindsay Achzet (Johnstown, N.Y.), Kendrick Wilson (Collins, N.Y.), Dayna Vibbard (Edmeston, N.Y.) and Nishioka each collected their first collegiate hits.

In the second game of the afternoon, the Express dropped an 18-2 decision after the Kangaroos hopped out to a 9-0 lead in the top of the first inning. In the frame, the Express made two fielding errors while allowing only five hits for several unearned runs. The Express rallied in the bottom frame, utilizing Nishioka's first collegiate home run to cut the deficit to 9-2.

Wells would be held without another run for the remainder of the contest as the Kangaroos tacked on three more runs in the third and six more in the fourth before the game was ended in the fifth inning with an 18-2 score.

DeLuca, who earned the start for SUNY Canton, struck out seven Express batters while allowing zero walks. Achzet (0-1) allowed eight earned runs in 3 2/3 innings of work before yielding to Nishioka who pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

The Express return to action Friday, Apr. 5 as they face-off against the Storm of Keuka College in a 3:00 p.m. road contest. Stay up to date with the latest news directly from the Wells College athletic department by "liking" us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/WellsExpress) and subscribing to our Twitter account (http://www.twitter.com/WellsExpress).