FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – SUNY Old Westbury softball (1-13, 1-12 Skyline) hosted a Skyline Conference doubleheader against the College of Mount Saint Vincent Dolphins (6-12, 4-9 Skyline) and won the opening matchup 8-6 but fell 9-8, respectively on Wednesday evening. The victory is the first under head softball coach Tom Pennino.   

Game 1: Old Westbury 8, Mount Saint Vincent 6

The Panthers wasted no time breaking the scoring ice as they compiled a trio of runs in the opening inning off of Dolphin starter Katie Hutter (L, 3-7: 6 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 2 K) that featured an RBI single up the middle by Christina Hassett (3-for-4, 3 RBI, R) and a two-run single up the middle by Kimberly Basile (2-for-3, 2 RBI) to give the home team an early 3-0 edge.

After tossing a pair of scoreless innings, Panther starter Hassett (W, 1-11: 7 IP, CG, 11 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 6 K) surrendered three runs as the Dolphins countered with an RBI single down the left field line off the bat of Alicia Blevins (4-for-4, 2 R, RBI) and a two-RBI single by Hutter (2-for-4, 3 RBI) to knot the game at three apiece.

Old Westbury scored a run in the fourth and fifth innings on ground outs by Melanie Vespa and Jessica Tucci, respectively, to help give the Panthers a two-run cushion (5-3). 

In the road half of the sixth frame, the Dolphins scored a pair of runs that was highlighted by a single up the middle that plated Jocelyn Vega to tie the game at five.

In the bottom of the sixth, Old Westbury capitalized on a throwing error by Vega that scored Vespa to give the Panthers a 6-5 advantage. The next batter, Hassett smacked a single through the left side that scored Gianna Ventiere (1-for-3, 2 R, BB) and Johanna Metz to extend their lead to three (8-5).

The Dolphins tried to rally back in the final inning by scoring on a Hutter single up the middle, but Hassett would settle down in the circle and secure the 8-6 Skyline Conference victory.

Game 2: Mount Saint Vincent 9, Old Westbury 8

In the top of the first, the Dolphins broke the scoring ice as Aimee Vega hit a single through the left side off of Panther starter Hassett (L, 1-12: 7 IP, 15 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) that scored Erin Patterson (4-for-5, 3 R) to make it a 1-0 game.

The Panthers quickly answered back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning as Dolphin starter Charlotte Kelly (W, 2-2: 6.1 IP, 3 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 16 BB, 8 K) misfired on a wild pitch that allowed Metz to touch home and tie the game (1-1). Later in the inning, Basile drew a walk with the bases juiced to push Old Westbury ahead 2-1.

After tossing scoreless second and third innings, the Dolphins rallied to put three runs on the board off of a RBI single by Renee Hoerning and a two-run triple to right center field by Blevins to give the College of Mount Saint Vincent a 4-2 lead.

The Dolphins would continue to string runs together as they scored a pair of runs in the fifth inning and three runs in the sixth inning that were highlighted by an RBI double by Hutter and a two-RBI double by Jocelyn Vega (3-for-4, 3 RBI) to help extend their lead to seven (9-2).

In the home half of the sixth, the Panthers would take advantage of another wild pitch by Kelly that scored Lillian Chiauzzi to cut the deficit to six (9-3).

The Panthers put together a scoring barrage in the bottom of the seventh inning as Basile smacked a single through the left side that scored Mallory Moretti to make it a 9-4 game. Julianne Sucre and Angelina Chaves demonstrated their patience at the plate as both would draw back-to-back walks, respectively, and put the Panthers within three (9-6). Following the walk of Chaves, Hutter (SV, 1: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, K) entered the circle who would let two more runs touch home but would ultimately secure the 9-8 victory for the visitors.
 

UP NEXT FOR THE PANTHERS: Old Westbury (1-13, 1-12 Skyline) continues its season with a doubleheader on the road against the Purchase College Panthers (1-22, 1-17 Skyline) on Saturday (May 8) at 11 a.m. in Purchase, N.Y.

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