By Draven Dabrowski
Sports Writer
The Owls were unable to come away with the victory, falling 4-2 to American International College on March 31 in the second game of an NE10 doubleheader after a strong outing in the first game.
Despite the loss, Head Coach Kate Bowen said how proud she was of the way her team continued to battle throughout the game, especially in the later innings.
“Those are the moments you talk about,” Bowen said. “I’m really proud of the fight we had.”
After riding the momentum of a 7-0 shutout win in the first game, the university looked to carry that energy into the second matchup but struggled early before mounting a late push that came up just short.
American International was able to get on the board first, scoring a run in the opening inning to take an early 1-0 lead.
The Owls responded in the bottom of the third. Infielder Izzy Ingersoll, a sophomore, started the inning with a single up the middle before Infielder Gianna Iaquinto, a sophomore, reached on a bunt single.
Outfielder Brianna Pearson, a graduate, followed with a line drive to left field, bringing Ingersoll home to tie the game at 1-1.
The Yellow Jackets regained control in the fifth inning, capitalizing on their opportunities to score two runs and take a 3-1 lead which left the university having to play from behind.
The Owls answered in the bottom half of the inning.
Catcher Karley Austin, a junior, worked a walk before catcher Sophia Angiolini, a sophomore, delivered a double between center and right field, bringing Austin home and cutting the deficit to 3-2.
Angiolini’s hit provided a much-needed spark for the Owls, shifting momentum and setting the stage for a nail biting final inning.
“When you get up to bat, you think ‘Alright, let’s do my job. Let’s not do too much.’ I just need to get this runner in scoring position, and it went my way,” Angiolini said.
American International added one last run in the top of the seventh inning, extending its lead to 4-2 and putting the university in a must-score situation.
Pearson drew a leadoff walk before Austin hit a single to center field, putting the tying runs on base with no outs.
With a groundout moving both runners into scoring position, outfielder Cheyenne LaTouche, a sophomore, was walked, and with her on first base, all bases were loaded with just two outs.
The Owls now had the chance to take the lead.
With the game on the line, pitcher Olivia Young, a junior, stepped up to bat and made solid contact on a 2-1 pitch, but the ball was tracked down for the final out, ending the comeback attempt and sealing the 4-2 victory for the Yellow Jackets.
Pitcher Giselle DeLutri, a sophomore, got the start in the circle and had a strong performance, pitching for six innings while allowing four runs on five hits and striking out eight.
DeLutri battled through some tough calls throughout her time in the circle.
Ingersoll and Young each recorded two hits to lead the Owls offensively, while Pearson and Angiolini drove in the team’s two runs.
“Having a consistent pitch count and strike zone is what works best for me,” DeLutri said.
