Bruns Grand Slam Sends NYU-Poly to Split With Whittier
Merilli Picks Up First Win
WHITTIER, CA - Another day, another split for the NYU-Poly softball team. But, today's victory came with lots of excitement. After blowing a 7-2 lead, NYU-Poly put up a six spot in the top of the eighth, highlighted by sophomore Shelby Bruns (Elko, NV) grand slam, to give the Lady Jays a 14-9 win over Whittier College. In game two though, the bats were silenced as Whittier picked up the 3-0 win.
NYU-Poly is now 3-5 overall while Whittier goes to 13-6 on the season.
NYU-Poly would jump out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, thanks in part to freshmen Brianna Feist (San Diego, CA) and sophomore Corine Fitzgibbons (Brooklyn, NY), who each belted RBI doubles. Whittier would cut the lead in half, scoring two in the home half of the third. But, NYU-Poly added runs in the fifth and sixth to go up 7-2. Whittier again answered, this time in a big way as Cindy Loza smacked a grand slam off of NYU-Poly starter Miranda Merilli (Altoona, PA) to make it 7-6.
Sophomore Natalia Stockinger (Putnam Valley, NY) gave the Lady Jays some breathing room with a homer in the top of the seventh to put the score at 8-6. But, Whittier responded again, this time off of relief pitcher freshmen Lyndsey Rathburn (Mission Viejo, CA). Mikala Gonzales and Molly Yriarte hit back-to-back homers forcing Rathburn from the game and Merilli came back in and retired the next three batters to send the contest to extra innings.
Freshmen Megan Moran (Reno, NV) and Sadie Hoschen (Huntington Beach, CA) both had three hits, two RBI, and two runs scored in game one for NYU-Poly. Fitzgibbons scored three runs and led all players with 10 putouts. Merilli earned her first win of the season (1-2).
In game two, Feist pitched a complete game, scattering six hits and allowing three runs. But for the second time this season, the NYU-Poly offense failed to provide any assistance to the freshmen hurler and NYU-Poly fell 3-0. The Lady Jays managed just three hits.
NYU-Poly is back in action today in San Marcos as they play Hope International, a team they beat three days ago 4-2.
