Today: Mar 28, 2024

Softball loses in twinbill to Adelphi

Matt GadSports Writer

Last Wednesday at Pelz Field, the Owls were swept by Adelphi in a doubleheader, getting outscored by the Panthers 11-4 in the two-game set.

In game one, the scoring was limited to just the second inning as Adelphi took a 5-0 lead off the bat of Emily Whitman’s three-run triple, bringing home an additional two runs after Emily Turney’s two-run single. The Owls got on the board in the bottom half thanks to an RBI single from junior outfielder Maria Zecena,  which scored sophomore outfielder Cailey Botteon.

“I’m seeing the pitches a lot better this year,” Botteon said. “I’m not swinging at a first pitch; I’m making the pitcher work more. When you see better pitches you choose to swing at better pitches, and it makes you more effective at your at-bats.”

Botteon, who went 2-for-5 against the Panthers with two hits, two runs scored and an RBI, collected the latter late as the Owls wrapped up the doubleheader.

“The game plan was to throw strikes, play solid defense and be aggressive at the plate. We played well but there was one bad inning in each game,” said Coach Jill Rispoli.

Sophomore pitcher Jazmyn Martinez hit her stride with a fifth complete game this season, something she also hit last spring. Junior infielder Sara Buscetto, who has been getting more work lately at shortstop, finished the day with a combined 2-for-6 with a run, an RBI and a stolen base.

“Our kids were making good contact and seeing pitches a lot better,” Rispoli said. “We are learning to lay off that high junk and it has to continue.”

The team, which finished 11-31 the previous season, defeated Saint Michael’s 7-0 and 5-3 in a Saturday doubleheader which was played in hostile territory in Colchester, Vermont.

Freshmen infielder Liz DeRosa and Alexa Bacoulis continued their hot hitting.

“This team is meshing really well this year and if someone does start to fall off, like their energy gets down a little bit, we can call them out right away because we know everyone so well,” Botteon said. “We don’t hit any lulls and everyone’s just picking everyone up all the time, which keeps the energy going.”

Sophomore pitcher and infielder Jayden Delaporta was also responsible for a three-run shot in game one over Saint Michael’s, which gave her a total of four RBI and a run that day. She was also able to bring her average up to .209 after the game.

Delaporta has been one of a number of underclassmen to really hit a stride this season. In addition to DeRosa and Bacoulis, freshmen Jacqueline Dumont and Ally Petrella both brought home two hits over the Purple Knights, and Buscetto was 3-for-8 and swiped three bases.

Buscetto has now grabbed more than 15 stolen bases this spring, whereas last year she took home thirteen, and in her freshman season she had just one in 32 games.

“Sara’s so smart, so mobile and so athletic, and she has a tremendous softball IQ,” Rispoli said. “She has done a great job bouncing across the infield and she can really play anywhere.”

Photo Credit: Will Aliou

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