Softball Edged By Cazenovia In Friday Doubleheader

CAZENOVIA, N.Y. – In only her fourth career game, junior Jessilyn Artaho-Aki (Kapa'a, Hawaii) picked up her first collegiate home run as the Wells College softball team posted back-to-back losses to the Wildcats of Cazenovia College on Friday. With the losses, Wells drops to 1-15 overall while Cazenovia improves to 7-19 on the year and to 6-8 within league play.

In game one, Wells posted a 9-1 loss in five innings before Artaho-Aki's home run provided the lone offense for the Express in a 6-1 seven inning defeat. Sophomore catcher Kendrick Wilson (Collins, N.Y.) was the lone member of the Express to collect multiple hits as she racked up three hits in only five at-bats. Artaho-Aki, sophomore Lindsay Achzet (Johnstown, N.Y.) and classmate Karley Raczynski (Fonda, N.Y.) picked up their team's other base hits.

The Express got on the board first in game one as Achzet's double with one out plated pitcher Taylor Spranger (Schenevus, N.Y.) who reached on a walk. From that point forward, however, Cazenovia pitcher Nateasha Williams limited the Express to two additional hits. A seven run second inning by Cazenovia placed the game out of reach for Wells as an error by the Express allowed two unearned runs to score while extending the inning.

Spranger allowed only six earned runs through four innings, walking four batters and striking out one Wildcat. Williams struck out five Wells batters while allowing only one earned run and as many walks.

Cazenovia struck first in game two, plating three runs in the home half of the second inning to place Wells behind early. Back-to-back base hits opened the inning before an error by Wells loaded the bases for Rebecca Nicolella, who promptly cleared the bases with a double to account for the inning's offense.

Artaho-Aki's home run led off the top of the fifth inning and marked the lone offensive punch for the Express in the game. Cazenovia scored two additional runs in the bottom of the fifth and two hits and an error allowed an extra run in the sixth inning. Cumulatively, Wells committed three errors in the game and ultimately registered five errors on defense across the two games against Cazenovia.

Spranger allowed only four earned runs to the Wildcats in the afternoon's second game, striking out two batters in six innings. Williams picked up her second victory of the day, striking out five batters and allowing only three hits for the second consecutive game.

Wells concludes their season this weekend, hosting the Wildcats from the SUNY Institute of Technology on Saturday, Apr. 26 at 3:00 p.m. before welcoming the Fighting Tigers from SUNY Cobleskill on Sunday, Apr. 27 at 1:00 p.m. on Senior Day.