CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu, 518-629-7898 or 518-416-2137
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Sunday, May 8, 2022
The Hudson Valley Community College softball program (17-10) continues to collect wins as they completed the season series sweep of Onondaga on Saturday afternoon at the Vikings Softball Field on the campus of Hudson Valley Community College.
GAME ONE: Hudson Valley 9, Onondaga 1 (5 innings)
Prior to the start of the first game, the softball program and the department of athletics honors its only graduating sophomore, Miranda Peck. She took advantage of her special day as she took the start and was tremendous inside the circle. Peck tossed a complete game (5 innings) and allowed only one run on four hits with four strikeouts. Peck improved to 6-0 during the team's historic win streak and reduced her ERA below 1.64 during this span.
Offensively, the Vikings were led by Abigayle Campbell, who finished the first game with four hits, a single in the first, third and fifth inning and a double in the fourth. Campbell scored twice and drove in three runs.
The Vikings scored six runs in the third inning, which was highlighted by a two RBI double by Katie Mannis. She sent a 1-1 pitch to left field, allowing Gianna Bucciero and Maryssa Sano to score. Bucciero reached on a RBI fielder's choice and Sano singled to shortstop, to set up Mannis' big opportunity.
Onondaga attempted to force the issue, but the Vikings defense and hitting proved to be too much for the Lazers late in the game.
GAME TWO: Hudson Valley 8, Onondaga 3
In the final game of the day, the Vikings had to come from behind to snatch away the lead from Onondaga as the Vikings trailed 3-2 as the game entered the top of the sixth inning. Hudson Valley responded by scoring three runs in the sixth inning and added three more insurance runs in the seventh inning to secure their 14thconsecutive win.
In the sixth, Gabrielle Castiglione lead off the inning with a walk and later advanced to second and a throwing error following a pop-out by Mannis. With Castiglione now in scoring position, Jody Rogers sent a pitch back up the middle, edging through the infield to allow Castiglione to score the tying run.
Alyssa Smith continued the rally with a walk and Rogers and Smith both advanced to third and second, respectively, when Carly Gemmett laid down a successful sacrifice bunt. With the game tied, Shealynn Peckowitz connected on a 3-1 pitch and sent it into a gap between the second baseman and the right fielder. With two-outs, the runners took off on contact and both Rogers and Smith were able to score, pushing the lead up to 5-3 and the Vikings never looked back.
UP NEXT:
Hudson Valley has a tough matchup ahead of them as they travel to Utica, NY to take on Mohawk Valley. The Vikings are currently sitting in fourth place in the NJCAA Region 3 rankings, just ahead of the Hawks. Game one is set to begin at 3 p.m.