Meier Ties All-Time Wins Record, Softball Splits Saturday Twinbill

AURORA, N.Y. – Senior pitcher Lorelei Meier (Caledonia, N.Y.) tied the all-time program record for career pitching victories as the Wells College softball team split a Saturday afternoon doubleheader against the Fighting Tigers of SUNY Cobleskill at the Wells College softball field. Following both the first game victory and the second game defeat, the Express' overall record stands at 2-4 while their North Eastern Athletic Conference record is even at 2-2. The Fighting Tigers find themselves at 3-7 overall and at 1-1 following their league opener.

With 15 career pitching victories to her credit, Meier is tied with Alyson Mann '12 for the all-time program lead in wins as a pitcher. Late last season, Meier captured the all-time record for the most career strikeouts by a pitcher (190) and, to date, ranks first in shutouts (4), strikeouts per seven innings (5.82) and earned run average (5.44).  Additionally, Meier currently ranks second all-time in innings pitched (295.0) and pitching appearances (45) – offensively, Meier stands seventh all-time in batting average (.301, 65-for-216) and ninth in runs scored (35).

In the day's first game, the Express posted an 8-6 victory over the Fighting Tigers after staving off a late SUNY Cobleskill rally. Wells hung five runs on Fighting Tigers hurler Brianne Gray in the third inning as the Express pounded out seven hits and capitalized on two errors by the visiting team. Senior Paige Stone (Madison, N.Y.) and freshman Lindsay Achzet (Johnstown, N.Y.) each pounded RBI singles while a two-base error followed a single by Kendrick Wilson (Collins, N.Y.), increasing the Wells lead. Freshman Karley Raczynski (Fonda, N.Y.) plated Wilson with an RBI single of her own in the inning.

Wells posted three runs in the fourth inning as well, utilizing additional RBI singles by Achzet and Wilson to further pad the lead. Senior Lauren Dunster (Auburn, N.Y.) slapped her first hit of the season to center field, driving in Achzet with the inning's third run. With the score set at 8-1 in favor of the hosts, the Fighting Tigers clawed their way back into the game via a two-run fifth inning and a three-run visiting half of the seventh inning before Meier, who had earlier yielded to Achzet, was called back into the game to induce a lineout to complete the game.

Meier struck out five batters across 4 1/3 innings of work, limiting the Fighting Tigers to only four hits. Achzet pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief, holding SUNY Cobleskill to only two earned wins. Gray drew the loss for the guests, allowing 14 hits to Wells alongside seven earned runs.

The Express and Fighting Tigers engaged in a pitching duel in the second game of the doubleheader, but SUNY Cobleskill came out victorious with a 3-0 final score. The Fighting Tigers were able to push single runs across home plate in innings one and two before a Michaela Schuyler double plated Melissa Spears for only the first earned run against Meier in the second contest.

Cumulatively, the Express were only able to record two hits off of starter Erin Wadsworth as Meier and Achzet each recorded base hits. Wadsworth fanned 11 Wells batters for the victory while Meier dropped her first game of the season after striking out seven batters and allowing only one earned run in seven innings – the Express made five fielding errors behind Meier.

The Express return to action Sunday, Apr. 7 as they host the Mustangs of Morrisville State College in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. 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).