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OLD WESTBURY, NY (www.OLDWESTBURYPANTHERS.com) – The SUNY College at Old Westbury softball team dropped their Skyline Conference opening doubleheader to the visiting NYU-Poly Fighting Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon from the Jackie Robinson Athletic Complex.  Old Westbury fell 9-1 in a run rule shortened game one before NYU-Poly held on for a 6-4 win in the finale.  Old Westbury (5-9) now stands at 0-2 in conference play while NYU-Poly (9-5) starts out at 2-0.

Shelby Bruns sparked NYU-Poly in the second inning with a two-run homer for the eventual game-winning runs.  NYU-Poly added two more in the fourth and scored five in the fifth to go up by nine runs.  Old Westbury's rally in the fifth fell short after Jessica Colucci singled home Jennifer Jean with two outs for the lone run of the game.  

Marissa Brightman (1-3) registered Old Westbury's lone extra base hit with a fourth inning double.  Shelby Bruns (2-3, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R) and Megan Moran (2-3, 2 RBI, 3 R) paced NYU-Poly with multiple hits. 

Deborah Ciccarelli (3-4) took the loss for Old Westbury, surrendering nine runs (seven earned) off eight hits and three walks in five innings of work.  Miranda Merilli (6-2) picked up NYU-Poly's win after scattering five hits and giving up an unearned run. 

NYU-Poly held the advantage in hits (8-5) and extra base hits (3-1) while committing five errors, compared to Old Westbury's two.  Old Westbury stranded nine runners on base and NYU-Poly abandoned three runners.

In the finale, Old Westbury jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first, scoring Jennifer Jean off a fielder's choice.  Two innings later, Old Westbury took a 3-0 advantage off the power of Jessica Colucci's bat, which singled home Alyssa Clancy and Samantha Siegler.  Corine Fitzgibbons stroked a two-run homer in the fourth to make it a 3-2 game.  In the fifth, NYU-Poly took a 5-3 lead off a run scoring double by Sadie Hoeschen, and back-to-back RBI singles by Fitzgibbons and Christi Bruin.  Old Westbury answered in the sixth with Marissa Brightman's double that scored Alex Heaney.  NYU-Poly added a seventh inning insurance run as Fitzgibbons scored off a single by Megan Moran.

Marissa Brightman extended her hit streak to five games after producing a career-best 2-for-4 (2B, RBI) game at the plate.  Corine Fitzgibbons paced NYU-Poly with a 3-for-4 game, driving in three and scoring three off a two-run homer. 

Alyssa Clancy (2-5) fanned a season-best 13 batters and was charged with the loss after giving up six runs on 11 hits with zero walks.  Brianna Feist (3-1) earned the win after striking out four batters in 5.2 innings, surrendering four runs off six hits and four walks.  Miranda Merilli produced the final four outs to earn her first save of the season.  

NYU-Poly outhit Old Westbury, 11-6, including 2-1 in extra base hits.  Old Westbury stranded nine batters compared to NYU-Poly's six.       

ST. JOSEPH'S-L.I. GOLDEN EAGLES UP NEXT FOR THE PANTHERS: The Panthers are back in action on Sunday (Mar. 25) for a Skyline Conference doubleheader on the road against the St. Joseph's-L.I. Golden Eagles from Martha Avenue Field.  First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Bellport, New York.

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