WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Morrisville State College softball team opened North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) play Saturday afternoon, dropping a pair of contests against host Penn College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, by 9-3, and 8-1 finals.
The Mustangs were able to resume action for the first time since March 17, after weather had forced the postponement of three consecutive double-headers. The loss drops Morrisville State to 3-7 on the young season, 0-2 in NEAC play.
In game one, Morrisville State's Holly Gamlen (Cazenovia, N.Y.) led the visitor bats going 2-for-3, including a double to center in the seventh inning. Gamlen also collected a run in the opening inning, after fellow Mustang Emily Vesely (Johnson City, N.Y.) added a 2-for-4 batting effort, also adding a run.
Brooke Terrier (Hubbardsville, N.Y.) threw the loss, pitching four innings while allowing six total runs, three earned, and collecting a strikeout. Chyne Kennedy (Southwold, Ontario) relieved Terrier for the final two innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs, while posting a strikeout in 10 batters faced.
Morrisville State jumped out to a two run lead after the opening inning, as Gamlen hit a single to left field, followed by a single by Vesely to move into scoring position.
Bailey Dillabough (Massena, N.Y.) slugged one towards third to create an error, scoring both Gamlen and Vesely for the 2-0 Mustang lead.
Morrisville State added to their lead in the second as Jada-Faye Bennett (Manhattan, N.Y.) led off with a single to right field, before Terrier advanced Bennet with a sacrifice bunt. A wild pitch led to Bennett moving into scoring position at third, before Kennedy stopped to the plate to hit a single to center, driving in Bennett for the score, and 3-0 Morrisville State lead.
Penn College responded in the third with five runs, two earned, claiming a 5-3 advantage they carried until the fifth inning where they added three additional runs, capping off the conference contest with a final score in the bottom of the sixth for the 9-3 victory.
In the second of the days double, Morrisville State once again claimed a first inning lead, as Dillabough shot a single to right field to score Kennedy, who reached on a single to lead off the inning.
Penn College crossed home for the equalizer in the bottom of the inning, capitalizing on a double to left to lead off the inning.
The hosts added three additional scores to their lead in the bottom of the fourth and sixth innings, holding the Mustangs scoreless as they collected the 8-1 win.
Kennedy paced the Mustangs from the plate with a 3-for-4 hitting performance, scoring the lone run of the contest, while Dillabough and Vesely, along with Allyson Kowalczyk (Hinesdale, Mass.) each went 1-for-3.
Morrisville State had three make appearances on the mound, beginning with starter Allison McGuire (Gilboa, N.Y.) who started the contest and threw the first three innings, allowing one run and striking out two.
Kennedy relieved McGuire for the next two, allowing five hits, four earned runs, while collecting two strikeouts. Terrier threw the final inning, allowing one hit and recording one strikeout.
Morrisville State returns to the field Tuesday, field conditions pending, as they host SUNY Canton beginning at 3 p.m. on the Mustangs home field.
Morrisville State College's curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.
The college was ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2018 issue and was also recognized in the Top Public Schools, Regional Colleges North in the 2018 Best Colleges rankings. For more information about Morrisville State College, visit www.morrisville.edu.
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