Lady Jays Split with Baruch, Sweep York

Brooklyn, NY -  The NYU-Poly women's softball team split its home opener with Baruch College on Saturday, winning the first game 4-3, while losing the second game 8-7.  On Sunday, the Lady Jays easily swept York College (NY) wnning both contests in 5 innings, 13-0 and 15-3.

In the first game against Baruch, NYU-Poly (7-7 overall) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first as freshmen Shelby Bruns (Elko, NV)  2-out triple scored senior Ryan Graybill (Missouri City, TX) and freshmen Corrinne Fitzgibbons (Brooklyn, NY). The Lady Jays would hold onto that lead until the top of the seventh, when freshmen hurler Miranda Merilli (Altoona, PA) got into a jam. Holding on to a 2-1 lead and with runner on second and third, Baruch's Michelle Junko smashed a 2-out base hit that brought in both runners and gave the Lady Bearcats the lead, 3-2.

However, NYU-Poly answered in the home half, with one out freshmen Anna Marie Smith (Henderson, NV) doubled, followed by a Fitzgibbons walk. Sophomore KatieJo Sunday (West Lawn,. PA) drove in Smith with a single to left, moving Fitzgibbons to third and the freshmen Liz Shrandt (Newton, PA)  gave NYU-Poly the walk-off win, as she slapped a single to center, bringing home Fitzgibbons.

Bruns had the hot bat in the game, going 3-for-4 and driving in two, while Fitzgibbons was 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Merilli picked up the win, while Nicole Flint suffered the loss for Baruch.

In the second match, NYU-Poly found itself trailing 7-0 going into the bottom of the fifth, but managed a remarkable comeback, scoring five in the fifth and tacking on two more in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game. Freshmen Natalia Stockinger (Putnam Valley, NY) creamed her second homer of the season, a two run blast, in the five run fifth inning, while freshmen Catherine Mistretta (Bellmore, NY) belted an RBI triple in the sixth. She later scored on the same play when the Baruch catcher tried to pick her after she overran third. The throw went into left field and Mistretta scored.

Baruch would win the game in the top of the seventh when Runko drove home Idelissa Lluveres on a sac fly to left. NYU-Poly's Bruns reached on a one-out error and advanced to second, but was stranded when Sunday struck out and senior Laura Buzzard (Warrington, PA) lined out to her counterpart, pitcher Andrea Tepfer to end the game. The win went to Tepfer, while Buzzard suffered the loss.

NYU-Poly easily cruised past York College Sunday. In game one, Buzzard went 2-for-4 with an RBI and one run, while senior Natasha Taylor (Portland, ME) went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. But, the big hit was Fitzgibbons grand slam in the third inning that blew open the game. Merilli picked up the win, allowing just three hits while striking out nine and walking one.

In game two, the Lady Jays bats kept hitting as they pounded out 15 hits against. Every starter picked up at least one hit. Fitzgibbons was 2-for-3 with 2 RBI and two runs scored while Buzzard went 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Sunday picked up a three RBI double in the second inning for the Lady Jays, while junior Tara Bucci (Montgomery, NJ) hit a two RBI double three batters later.

Buzzard pitched five innings, allowing two earned runs and six hits, while striking out seven.

NYU-Poly travels to Philadelphia Bible College on Thursday for a non-conference double-header, before their showdown with Skyline Conference rival Farmingdale on Long Island, Saturday.