By Draven Dabrowski
Sports Writer
The Owls closed out the season by splitting a doubleheader with Assumption University at Pelz Field on Saturday, May 2.
Both games were nail-biters, with the Owls dropping the first game but winning the second to end the season off strong.
“This season was great,” Head Coach Kate Bowen said. “We had some really big conference wins and a couple really close games, but I am really proud of everyone’s fight.”
The doubleheader also served as Senior Day, adding extra emotion to the regular-season finale as the Owls honored their graduating class prior to first pitch.
The opener turned into a pitcher’s duel, with pitcher Ashley Lewis, a senior, delivering a steady outing in the circle. Lewis went 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits.
After three scoreless innings, the Greyhounds broke through in the fourth. Taking advantage of a hit and a pair of errors, Assumption pushed across two runs to grab a 2-0 lead.
The Owls answered in the bottom of the sixth when infielder Gianna Iaquinto, a graduate, reached on an error to spark the rally.
Infielder Christina DeNovellis, a junior, followed with a pinch-hit single before third baseman Samantha LaFemina, a senior, drove a ball through the right side, scoring Iaquinto and cutting the deficit to one.
The seniors played a key role throughout the doubleheader, delivering key moments across both games. Game two flipped the script.
Pitcher Giselle DeLutri, a sophomore, was dominant. DeLutri tossed a complete game, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out four to earn her eighth complete game of the season.
The university wasted little time providing run support. Infielder Izzy Ingersoll, a sophomore, drew a leadoff walk in the first and came around to score, giving the university an early 1-0 edge.
Second baseman Nadia Cestari, a senior, and right-fielder Cheyenne LaTouche, a sophomore, opened the inning with back-to-back singles in the second inning.
It was Cestari’s last regular season game for the Owls.
“My last four years here were a dream,” Cestari said. “I wouldn’t have had it any other way with this team, this program, this university. Today was a perfect way to end it.”
Assumption was able to respond with a run in the third, but the university answered back in the fourth.
LaTouche singled to lead off the inning and later scored when Austin lined another RBI single to center, pushing the advantage to 3-1.
From there, DeLutri took over. She retired hitters efficiently and limited the Greyhound hitters down the stretch, closing the door to secure the split.
Austin finished the day with three hits and two RBIs across both games; LaTouche tallied three hits. DeLutri’s strong outing capped a good performance by the pitching staff that kept both games within reach.
Through all the ups and downs, one thing remained constant: the bond this team shared.
With the season now complete, the Owls send off their senior class with one final win at Pelz Field.
“This season was one of the best ones,” Lewis said. “We played for each other. We played together as a team and family.”
