Farmingdale, NY - The College of Mount Saint Vincent's softball team played host to the St. Joseph's College-Brooklyn Bears on Wednesday evening in a rematch from just three days prior. Despite struggling on the offensive end for the majority of the contest, the Dolphins' patience at the plate came to life in the sixth inning, resulting in seven runs crossing the plate to eventually win by the score of 8-3.
The Bears got on the board early and often in the first round of the Skyline Conference playoffs, as they crossed the plate three times over the first three innings of play off two hits and a passed ball. The Dolphins finally got on the board in the fourth inning when
Taylor Milata hit a single to center field, bringing in
Katie Moos while cutting St. Joe's lead to two.
Things were quiet on both sides up until the sixth inning, when CMSV finally broke out and performed like the team they've been all season long. First it was Milata, who started things off with a triple.
Alanna Alioto-Reyes followed up her teammate with a triple of her own, which resulted in a 3-2 score. Alioto-Reyes tied things up with her feet, as she scored on a wild pitch to knot everything up. From there, the Dolphins' patience was on full display, as
Deanna Nardi,
Alicia Blevins and
Breeze-Lyn Morita drew consecutive two out walks to load the bases. A wild throw from the Bears' third baseman off a grounder from
Erin Patterson drove in all three runs, giving CMSV their first lead of the game. Later in the inning, both
Abigail Laurendeau and Solphia Herrera each drove in runs to complete the team's comeback playoff victory.
Herrera, Milata and Alioto-Reyes each paced their team with two hits each.
Hannah Thompson received the start for the Dolphins and struck out four batters in four innings of work. Freshman
Kayla Pagano pitched in the final three frames and allowed just one baserunner.
Now advanced into the second round, the Dolphins will set their sights on Farmingdale State, who defeated CMSV in both games this season. They'll return to the play the double elimination round on May 3.