Softball Halves Neutral Site Doubleheader vs. Morrisville St.

HAMILTON, N.Y. – The Wells College softball team posted both a victory and a loss against the Mustangs of Morrisville St. College on the campus of Colgate University Sunday afternoon. Following the split, the Express' overall record stands at 4-6 overall while their North Eastern Athletic Conference record is evened at 4-4. All two of Morrisville State's overall victories (2-10, 2-4 NEAC) are at the expense of Wells College.

The Express were blanked in the first game of the doubleheader by a 10-0 margin in five innings. The Mustangs touched Wells starter Lorelei Meier (Caledonia, N.Y.) for nine earned runs in four innings of work, striking out six batters in the process. Wells recorded only four hits against Morrisville St., as Meier joined first baseman Karley Raczynski (Fonda, N.Y.), left fielder Theresa Hernandez (Dewitt, N.Y.) and second baseman Marie Valliere (Chicopee, Mass.) in the hit column.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Express and Mustangs scored a combined 37 runs for the seventh-highest combined run total in program history. Wells was able to maintain a lead from start to finish, completing the game with a 22-15 victory.

With two outs, the Express were able to strike for three quick runs to open the first inning. Freshman Lindsay Achzet (Johnstown, N.Y.) rapped a double that drove in classmate Kylie Nishioka (Encinitas, Calif.) for the game's first run. Freshman Kendrick Wilson (Collins, N.Y.) followed, reaching on an error by the shortstop that plated Achzet. Raczynski later added an RBI single to drive home Wilson for the inning's third run.

Following a two-run home run in the home half of the first, the Express caused more havoc for the Mustangs. Meier rapped a one out single before being plated following an error by the Morrisville St. right fielder after a fly ball by Nishioka was misplayed. Nishioka later scored on an illegal pitch. Wilson chipped in an RBI single in the later goings, scoring senior Paige Stone (Madison, N.Y.) who reached on an earlier single.

Wells took advantage of four errors by Morrisville St. in the visiting half of the third inning, recording only one hit as the Express were able to increase the lead to 11-2. With the score at 12-6 in favor of the Express, a Wells' five-run sixth was countered with a nine run bottom of the sixth by Morrisville to cut the score to 17-15 in favor of Wells. The Express, however, settled down and scored five additional runs in the seventh to place the game at arm's reach for the Mustangs.

Stone led the way for the Express in game two, pounding out four hits in six at-bats while plating five runs. Valliere collected three hits in five at-bats. She glided home with three of her team's 22 runs while Meier and Nishioka were each plated four times. Achzet drove in four runs while Wilson and Nishioka each collected three runs batted in.

In the second game, Raczynski, Achzet, Nishioka and Achzet each recorded six at-bats to tie the all-time program single game total for at-bats in one game. Nishioka and Meier were each one run scored away from tying the all-time record for runs scored in one game while Stone fell one hit short and one run batted in short of tying the all-time single game records in both statistics.

Meier (4-5) earned her fourth victory of the season despite allowing 11 earned runs in six-and-a-third innings of work.

The Express return to action Wednesday, Apr. 17 as they host the Storm of Keuka College in a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader at the Wells College softball fields. 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).