Kissimmee, Fla. — Fresh off a 4-3 victory over Buffalo State earlier in the day, the SUNY Old Westbury softball team returned to action Thursday afternoon and earned its second straight win with a 5-4 comeback victory over Franklin & Marshall at the Fortune Road Athletic Complex.
With the win, the Panthers improved to 2-4 on the season, while the Diplomats fell to 3-5.
Old Westbury found itself in an early hole after Franklin & Marshall scored two runs in the first inning and added two more in the second to take a 4-0 lead. The Panthers remained scoreless through the first two innings before breaking through in the third. Camila Uribe delivered an RBI single to score Jessica Feerick, and Yelina Arias followed with an RBI single to bring home Ashley Pierce and cut the deficit to 4-2.
The Panthers kept the pressure on in the fourth inning and completed the comeback with three more runs. Madison Muehling singled to left field to drive in Arianna Valle, Jessica Feerick later drew an RBI walk to score Phylicia Cangemi, and Ashley Pierce added an RBI single to left that brought home Aliya Feerick for the go-ahead run. Old Westbury held Franklin & Marshall scoreless the rest of the way to secure the 5-4 win.
Old Westbury showed several positives in the victory, collecting 12 hits while also drawing six walks to keep constant pressure on the Diplomats' defense. The Panthers also responded well after the early deficit, scoring five unanswered runs and holding Franklin & Marshall scoreless over the final five innings.
Aliya Feerick led the Panthers offensively with a 3-for-5 performance and one run scored. Jessica Feerick added two hits, one RBI, and one run scored, while Camila Uribe finished 2-for-4 with an RBI. Ashley Pierce went 1-for-3 with an RBI, a walk, and one run scored, and Madison Muehling and Yelina Arias each added an RBI. Arianna Valle reached base three times with one hit and two walks while also scoring a run, and Phylicia Cangemi crossed the plate once and drew a walk.
In the circle, Hailey Ragozine earned the win and helped the Panthers settle in after the early innings. Defensively, Old Westbury limited Franklin & Marshall to just three hits and kept the Diplomats off the scoreboard from the third inning on.
What's Next?
Old Westbury will continue Spring Games play on March 20 with a doubleheader at the DiamondPlex Complex in Winter Haven, Fla. The Panthers will first face the University of Wisconsin-River Falls at 11:00 a.m. before taking on Hartwick College at 1:15 p.m.
