By Draven Dabrowski
Sports Writer
A late push was not enough for the Owls, who dropped a 7-6 game to Adelphi University in the second game of an NE10 doubleheader after battling back all afternoon at Pelz Field on April 22.
Adelphi set the tone early, scoring twice in the first inning, but the Owls never let the game get out of reach. The home team chipped away with timely hits and steady pressure, keeping things close into the final innings.
“The first game, we were playing good defense and getting timely hitting,” Head Coach Kate Bowen said. “The second game was a close one that didn’t go our way, but I am really proud of both efforts.”
After falling behind early, the university responded in the second inning. With two outs, second baseman Nadia Cestari, a graduate, started the rally with a single before right fielder Cheyenne LaTouche, a sophomore, was hit by a pitch.
Third baseman Christina DeNovellis, a junior, followed with a base hit to bring home the Owls’ first run, and the offense continued to roll from there.
Pitcher Olivia Young, a junior, added another RBI knock before infielder Izzy Ingersoll, a sophomore, came through with a hit to give the university a 3-2 lead, flipping the momentum.
“I think our second game was really close. We fought the whole time,” Ingersoll said. “We’re obviously not happy with the loss, but it was good to have a close game and keep battling.”
Ingersoll also reached a personal milestone in the game, recording her 100th career hit in just 76 games. Adelphi responded in the fourth inning.
They put up five runs to take back control at 7-3. The university still fought back. LaTouche worked a leadoff walk in the bottom half of the inning, and Young followed with another hit to keep the pressure on.
With two outs, Ingersoll delivered again, lining a double to left field that scored two runs and cut the deficit to 7-5.
“If I can just continue passing the bat or even get a sacrifice fly, anything to help my team, then I trust my team to come through,” Ingersoll said.
That approach showed again in the sixth. DeNovellis opened the inning with her second triple of the game, setting the table for another late push.
After a walk put another runner on, Ingersoll lifted a sacrifice fly to bring the Owls within one.
On the mound, pitcher Giselle DeLutri, a sophomore, settled in after a tough start, keeping the Owls in the game while adding to her strikeout total on the season.
“The first inning was a little rocky, but it’s good to have my teammates back, knowing we can chip away,” DeLutri said. “Our team did a great job making the game tighter.”
Despite the late surge, the university failed to find the equalizer, dropping the game by a run.
The Owls were able to take the opener 7-3 to split the doubleheader.
The university now sits at 19-19 overall and 12-16 in NE10 play. The Owls returned to action on Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26 for a series against Bentley University.
They will close out the regular season at home against Assumption University on Saturday, May 2.
