Pitching, Timely Hits Pace Softball In DH Sweep Of Cazenovia

CAZENOVIA, N.Y. – Senior captain Lorelei Meier (Caledonia, N.Y.) picked up two victories in the circle and also was 4-for-6 at the plate to lead the Wells College softball team to a doubleheader sweep of the Wildcats of Cazenovia College Saturday afternoon at Veterans Field. With the victories, the Express sweep the season series against Cazenovia (4-0) while improving to 8-12 overall (8-10 NEAC) on the year. Cazenovia falls to 4-28 overall on the year following the loss while standing at 4-14 in league play.

Wells posted a 7-3 victory in the opener before staving off a late Wildcats rally to collect a 6-4 win in game two. Freshman Lindsay Achzet (Johnstown, N.Y.) was 4-for-7 on the afternoon, driving in a team-leading five runs to pace the offense. Six different players recorded at least one run batted in while all but one player in the Express "starting nine" recorded at least one hit. The Express also committed only one error on the afternoon, recording 42 successful putouts across 14 innings.

In game one, Cazenovia began the day's scoring with three runs in the home half of the fourth. A leadoff double by pitcher Jenna Kraiger preceded an RBI groundout by shortstop Ali Smith for the frame's first run. Calyn Fisher and Brianna Turner also added run-producing singles for Cazenovia in the inning.

Wells answered in a big way in the top of the sixth inning, taking the lead by pounding out five hits – senior Paige Stone (Madison, N.Y.) and Achzet each hammered RBI singles before freshman Karley Raczynski (Fonda, N.Y.) came through with the clutch two-RBI single to left center field to grant Wells the lead.

The Express took advantage of three errors by the hosts in the top of the seventh, as freshman Marie Valliere (Chicopee, Mass.) and Stone used RBI singles alongside a sacrifice fly by Achzet to add insurance. Valliere's single plated freshman Dayna Vibbard (Edmeston, N.Y.), who reached on an error while Stone plated Meier, who also reached on an error. Achzet drove home Valliere, who paraded home on the deep drive to center field.

Meier earned the victory, hurling seven innings while allowing only three earned runs while striking out two batters. Kraeger was touched for 10 hits and allowed seven earned runs despite striking out eight Wells batters.

Wells struck first in game two, using an Achzet RBI single to drive home Meier with the game's first run. Cazenovia answered in the home half of the inning, as catcher Ashley Morgan's two-out triple was followed up by an RBI single from first baseman Renee Johnson to tie the game at one.

The Express and Wildcats traded runs in their respective halves of the fourth inning as a Kylie Nishioka (Encinitas, Calif.) sacrifice fly scored Vibbard before a single by second baseman Hilary Hext drove in leadoff batter Elizabeth Varney for the tying run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

The Express scored two runs in the top of the fifth and the top of the sixth, placing the game out of reach from the host Wildcats. Junior Theresa Hernandez (Dewitt, N.Y.) used a two-RBI single for the Wells runs in the fifth before an Achzet double drove in Stone and Meier in the sixth. An Express error in the bottom of the seventh allowed Cazenovia a brief opportunity for a rally, but Meier induced a popup to Morgan to end the looming threat.

Despite allowing 16 hits, Meier earned her second victory of the day by limiting Cazenovia to four earned runs. Kraeger drew her second consecutive loss, allowing six runs off of 14 hits and a walk.

The Express return to action on Sunday, Apr. 28 as they face-off against the Fighting Tigers of SUNY Cobleskill in a 1:00 p.m. road doubleheader – the Fighting Tigers boast a 10-8 record entering Sunday's doubleheader against Wells, who sports a record of 8-10. To qualify for the NEAC postseason, Wells must secure victories in both ends of the double dip. Both teams would have a 10-10 record in conference play, but Wells would qualify for the tournament by winning 3-of-4 games against Cobleskill.

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