The Old Westbury softball team was swept by Baruch College in Friday's season opener. The Panthers are 0-2 on the season and will travel to Florida next week for ten games, before returning and opening up Skyline play on Saturday, April 2nd against Farmingdale State College.
Game One: Old Westbury 7, Baruch 14
Christina Hassett (2 IP, 4 ER, 4 BB, 1 SO) started in the circle for the Panthers in the first game of the season. Three hits and two defensive errors allowed Baruch to plate five runs in the top of the first inning. Old Westbury earned a run back in bottom of the second inning when
Gianna Ventiere (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 R) led off with a triple, and
Jessica Tucci (1-for-3, 2 RBI) later grounded out to shortstop to bring Ventiere home.
Baruch scored another in the top of the third inning, before Old Westbury had a five-run bottom of the third to tie the game at 6-6. Five hits in the inning from Metz (2-for-4, 2 R), Reilly (3-for-4, RBI, R), Ventiere, Cuttone (1-for-3, 2 RBI, R), and Tucci tied the game for the home team.
After a scoreless top of the fourth for Baruch, Old Westbury took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the inning. Metz led off with a bunt single, and advance to third base on two wild pitches. Reilly then singled to center field to bring home the go-ahead run. Carly Quint retired the next three batters for Baruch to keep the damage to one run.
Baruch tied the game with a run in the sixth inning, before stringing together five hits and scoring seven runs in the top of the seventh inning for the final score of 14-7.
Natalie Intrieri took the loss for Old Westbury, allowing six runs on three hits and three walks, with two strikeouts.
Game Two: Old Westbury 8, Baruch 12
Baruch scored first in the top of the second inning. Two errors by Old Westbury and a sacrifice fly from Megan Bell (2-for-3, RBI, 2 R) scored the first run of the game for the Bearcats.
In the bottom of the third inning, back to back bunt singles by
Sara Welti (1-for-2) and
Natalie Intrieri (2-for-5, RBI, R) and heads-up base running put two in scoring position for the Panthers.
Alaina Reilly (1-for-2, 2 R) grounded into a fielder's choice and Welti was called out attemping to score, before
Madison Danin (1-for-4, 2 RBI) hit a double to center field to bring home Intrieri and Reilly and take the lead 3-1.
Both teams scored a run in the fourth inning, and Old Westbury scored two more in the fifth. Reilly led off with a single to center field, and Ventiere later doubled to center field to bring her home. The Bearcats plated another in the top of the sixth.
Old Westbury had a 6-3 lead going into the top of the seventh, before the Bearcats battled back with eight hits in the inning to score nine more runs and go ahead 12-6. The Panthers scored two runs in the bottom of the inning, but fell short of closing the gap.
Gianna DiLIllo took the loss in the circle for Old Westbury. She allowed 13 hits and five earned runs with one walk and one strikeout. DiLillo gave up just seven hits through the first six innings, before the Bearcats big top of the seventh. Four defensive errors by the Panthers allowed for seven unearned runs for Baruch.
