Pioneers Rally to Win Opener, Split with Broncos

A five-run 5th inning lifted the Alfred State softball team to a 5-4 victory in the opener as they split a Sunday afternoon doubleheader with SUNY Delhi. The Pioneers rally in game two fell just short as the Broncos took the contest 9-7.

Trailing 4-0, Alfred State sent 11 batters to the plate in the 5th inning. Stormi Kruger (Medina) collected a 2-RBI single to right, Courtney McDaniel (Arkport) singled, and Trisha Shingleton (Byron Bergen) tied it when Kruger beat out the throw home on a fielder's choice. Alexis Bradshaw (Brighton) gave the Pioneers the lead with a RBI single to left.

Delhi had built their lead with a solo homer in the 1st by Sierra Becht, a RBI groundout by Yuka Matsumoto in the 3rd, and a RBI single by Matsumoto followed by a sac fly by Becht in the 4th.

Shingleton picked up the victory on the mound with a complete game seven hitter. She allowed four earned runs and six walks while striking out one.

Bradshaw led the Pioneers 13-hit attack with a 3 for 3 day. McDaniel was 2 for 3 while Kruger and Aubri Mosier (Rome, PA) were each 2 for 4.

Becht was 2 for 2 with 2 RBI for Delhi in the opener.

The Broncos jumped out to a 8-0 lead in the nightcap (five runs in the 3rd and three more in the 4th) but had to withstand a furious comeback attempt by Alfred State. 

In the 4th, McDaniel had a 2-RBI single to right to get the Pioneers on the board. Melissa Barber (Nassau/Catholic Central) hit a RBI double down in the left field line, Mosier hit a sac fly, and Kruger scored on a wild pitch in the 5th to make it 8-5. Barber made it a one-run game in the 6th, when she laced a single up the middle to score Annie Corrao (Grand Island) and Steffanie Preston (Groton).

Matsumoto delivered a RBI single in the 7th to add an insurance run and Alexandria Forkey retired the blue & gold in the 7th to seal the victory.

Samiaya Salley was 2 for 3 with a RBI while Becht and Matsumoto both collected two hits each for Delhi in the nightcap. Forkey went the distance for the victory.

Barber finished 3 for 4 with 3 RBI  while Bradshaw and Kruger both were 2 for 4. The blue & gold collected 12 hits in the contest.

The contest was the Pioneers first game since March 16th in Myrtle Beach, SC. The game was played on the turf at Fillmore Central School.

The Lady Pioneers are right back at it tomorrow afternoon when they host (on campus) Hilbert at 3 p.m.