Juliana Romeo
Juliana Romeo

Eight-Run Seventh Gives Bentley Game 2 Win & a Road Split at Adelphi

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – Seven different players drove in runs during an eight-run seventh inning as the Bentley University softball team rallied to defeat Adelphi University, 11-6, and secure a split of their Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader at Janet Fricke Field Sunday afternoon.

The victory followed an 8-0 six-inning win by Adelphi in the opener, which was scoreless through five-and-a-half innings, and completed a 3-1 weekend for the Falcons in the Empire State.

The big inning began with singles by junior center fielder Juliana Romeo (Greenville, R.I./ Smithfield HS) and sophomore right fielder Lauren Calabrese (Cave Creek, Ariz./Boulder Creek HS). A bunt single by junior second baseman Kaileigh Serafini (Schenectady, N.Y./Schenectady HS) loaded the bases and the tying run was forced in on a bases-loaded walk to junior left fielder Stacey Korotsky (Raynham, Mass./ Bridgewater-Raynham HS).

The inning continued with an RBI single by sophomore third baseman Lindsey Allen (Worcester, Mass./Worcester Tech HS) and a bases-loaded walk drawn by junior shortstop Julie Slavin (Rocky Hill, Conn./Rocky Hill HS). Freshman catcher Ella Hillier (Tualitin, Ore./Tualitin HS) picked up an RBI on a ground out, freshman designed player Elise Pereira (Plainville, Mass./King Philip Reg. HS) had a two-run double and junior first baseman Gabby Casalino (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West HS) delivered an RBI single. Serafini completed the scoring with an RBI single to center.

Bentley totaled 12 hits, including a 3-for-4 effort from Romeo and two hits by Pereira. The victory went to sophomore Ashley Keegan (Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic HS), who improved to 5-0 after scattering ten hits. She was charged with six runs (two earned) in six-plus innings of work.

The opener featured a pitchers' duel between Adelphi sophomore righty Ally Muller (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) and Bentley junior Kayleigh Fitzpatrick (East Hampstead, N.H./Timberlane Reg. HS) before the Panthers (9-11, 3-1 NE10) erupted in the sixth. Muller finished with a two-hitter and eight strikeouts.

The crushing sixth inning saw Adelphi come up with seven hits and take advantage of two Falcon errors. Junior shortstop Kailah Konkel (Eastport, N.Y.) had a two-run single and senior catcher Nicolette Cuccio (Dingmans Ferry, Pa.) ended the contest with an RBI single to plate the eighth run.

Casalino and Romeo each had singles for Bentley.

The Falcons, 7-12 overall and 3-1 NE10, are scheduled to make their home debut on Tuesday against Stonehill.