2023 NAC Softball Tournament: Day 1 Recap
UTICA, New York – Day one of the 2023 NAC Softball Tournament began Sunday with Husson University (1-0) and Thomas College (2-0) going into day two in the winners bracket. For the day, UMaine-Presque Isle, SUNY Cobleskill, and SUNY Poly finished 0-1 with Cazenovia splitting a pair of games.
Game 1: Cazenovia 11, UMaine-Presque Isle 3
The first win of the day came from #4 Cazenovia after defeating #5 UMaine-Presque Isle, 11-3.
Senior Morgan Marl got the win of the mound after pitching five innings and only giving up five hits, three runs and four walks, all while striking out three batters.
Cazenovia got on the board early with a pair of homeruns from Sarah Penny and Madison Cieslak in the bottom of the first. UMPI answered and tied the game at 3-3 the following inning. The Wildcats would score in the next three innings to take the lead, ultimately ending the game early with a five-inning mercy.
Cazenovia would end their stat sheet with 15 hits with majority of their line up getting a hit.
Game 2: Thomas 3, SUNY Cobleskill 1
After a close game, #3 Thomas College would come out on top, 3-1, over sixth-seeded SUNY Cobleskill.
With an RBI double and single from Maddie Rock and Riley Gibin, the Terriers made the score 2-0 in the first. Second baseman Kaylee Fonseca would add to Thomas’ lead with a homerun in the bottom of the second.
SUNY Cobleskill held the Terriers at three runs the rest of the game. The Fighting Tigers shortened the Terriers’ lead to two runs after Alexis Miranda scored off an RBI double from Deanna Palmer in the top of the fifth. Senior pitcher Kelsey Currier and the Thomas defense halted SUNY Cobleskill’s comeback after only allowing two hits over the remainder of the game.
Currier would get the win with a pitching stat sheet of five hits, one run allowed, six strikeouts, and no walks. She would also go 3-for-3 at the plate, all doubles.
Game 3: Husson 9, Cazenovia 0
Top-seeded Husson University snagged its first win of the post season after defeating #4 Cazenovia College, 9-0.
A two-run RBI double from Bulla McCabe allowed Katie Raymond and Olivia McCarty to cross home plate and get things started for the Eagles. Husson kept the momentum and score all nine of its runs during the first inning after RBIs from Tori Excel, Olivia McCarty, Bulla McCabe, Jill Bisson, and Teagan Blackie. Cazenovia held the Eagles to only one hit for the remainder of game.
Husson senior pitcher McKenna Smith would get the win in the circle after throwing a perfect 5-inning game. She was able to strike out 11 of the 16 Cazenovia batters she faced.
Game 4: Thomas, 19, SUNY Poly 0
First year pitcher Megan Oberholzer seized her first post-season win in the circle after #3 Thomas took down #2 SUNY Poly, 19-0, in the final game of day.
The Terriers ended the first inning with six runs off seven hits, and went on to add to its run and hit total every inning of game. Four players from SUNY Poly was able to make contact at the plate, but the Thomas defense would hinder the Wildcats’ ability to score.
Game leaders for the Terriers include Kelsey Currier (3-for-3, four runs, one RBI, one walk), Maddie Rock (3-for-5, three RBI), Megan Oberbolzer (3-for-4, four runs, three RBI), and Riley Giblin (1-for-2, two walks, three RBI).
Day 2 Tournament Schedule
Game 5: 9:00 AM- Cazenovia vs. SUNY Cobleskill
Game 6: 11:00 AM- SUNY Poly vs. UMaine-Presque Isle
Game 7: 1:00 PM- Thomas vs. Husson
Game 8: 3:00 PM- Winner of the game 5 vs. Winner of the game 6
Game 9: 5:00 PM- Winner of the game 8 vs. Loser of the game 7