CONTACT: Steve Mullen (518) 629-8063
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, May 7, 2005
The Hudson Valley Community College (18-6/14-0 Mountain Valley Conference) softball team just needed a split in today's doubleheader with Mohawk Valley Community College (19-9/8-4) to clinch its fourth consecutive conference championship. Instead, Hudson Valley stormed to a convincing sweep of the Hawks, 10-3 and 11-3, and now has won 18 of its last 19 games.
After allowing three runs in the first inning of the opener, freshman pitcher Laura Rogers (Greenwich/Schuylerville High School) shut the Hawks down to improve her record to 7-1 on the season. She allowed three runs on five hits, striking out one and walking one. Rogers also was three-for-four at the plate.
Sophomore Jessalyn Hotaling (Coeymans Hollow/Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School) finished with two hits and drove in three runs for Hudson Valley in the opener. Sophomores Mindy McDonough (Lansingburgh/Lansingburgh High School) and Annemarie Nelson (Nassau/Columbia High School) and freshman Kayle Countermine (Schenectady/Schalmont High School) added two hits apiece.
Hotaling was three-for-three and drove in three runs in the second game.
She also picked up the win on the mound, allowing three runs on three hits. She fanned three and walked four.
Nelson doubled and tripled in the second game for Hudson Valley.
The Lady Vikings, ranked 12th in the latest NJCAA Division III poll, will host second-ranked and undefeated Broome Community College at noon tomorrow.
Game 1
Mohawk Valley 300 000 0 - 3 5 2
Hudson Valley 010 333 x - 10 13 0
Mohawk Valley battery: Meghan Philpotts and Nicole Day Hudson Valley battery: Laura Rogers and Dana Herchenroder
Game 2
Mohawk Valley 002 01 - 3 3 5
Hudson Valley 200 18 - 11 11 1
Mohawk Valley battery: Meghan Philpotts and Nicole Day
Hudson Valley battery: Jessalyn Hotaling and Dana Herchenroder