Softball Shut Down By SUNYIT In Tuesday Double Dip

MARCY, N.Y. – Senior captain Paige Stone (Madison, N.Y.) went 3-for-5 on the afternoon, but the Wells College softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader played Tuesday afternoon on the campus of SUNY Institute of Technology. With the losses, the Express fall to 6-12 overall and to 6-10 within North Eastern Athletic Conference play. The victory boosts the Wildcats to 15-10 overall and to 9-3 in league play – with both wins, SUNYIT claims the season sweep over Wells.

Despite scoring the day's first run, the Express posted a 5-1 loss to open the day's action. Following a leadoff single by pitcher Lorelei Meier (Caledonia, N.Y.), Stone ripped an RBI double to left field that plated Meier from second base after advancing on a passed ball. SUNYIT answered quickly in the home half of the frame, utilizing a sacrifice fly by second baseman Nicolette Kennedy to knot the score at one apiece.

A leadoff double by center fielder Fallon Reimold in the bottom of the third inning proved effective as a miscue by the Express on defense allowed her to circle the bases for the game's second run. A single by catcher Lauren Marleau preceded an RBI triple by Kennedy to grant the hosts a 3-1 lead.

SUNYIT struck for two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, touching Meier for two runs after she had posted the inning's first two outs. Kennedy's second triple of the game drove in Marleau while designated player Alison Short cracked an RBI single to plate Kennedy for the inning's second run – the Wildcats would maintain their 5-1 lead throughout the remainder of the contest.

Meier (6-9) pitched six innings, allowing four earned runs while striking out three Wildcats. Erica Hovey (10-5) earns her 10th victory of the year, allowing only one earned run while fanning six Express batters in six innings of work before yielding to Bridget Ashmore.

Wells only mustered three hits in the second game of the doubleheader as SUNYIT posted a 15-0 victory in five innings. The Express have now been shut out in seven games this season. For Wells, Stone, catcher Kendrick Wilson (Collins, N.Y.) and left fielder Lauren Dunster (Auburn, N.Y.) recorded the only hits against Reinold, who took to the circle for SUNYIT in the second game.

SUNYIT utilized an 11-for-15 performance by their first four hitters in the lineup while also taking advantage of four Wells fielding miscues. Meier allowed 17 total hits to the Wildcats, allowing 11 earned runs while not striking out a single batter in four innings of work. Reinold pulled double duty for the Wildcats, pitching three scoreless innings while driving in five runs following a 3-for-4 performance on the afternoon.

Wells returns to action this Saturday, Apr. 27 as they face-off against the Wildcats of Cazenovia 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).