Poly Pitching Puzzles Purchase

BROOKLYN, NY - Freshmen Briana Feist (San Diego, CA) tossed a two-hitter, while sophomore Miranda Merilli (Altoona, PA) threw a three-hitter as the NYU-Poly softball team rolled to a sweep over Purchase College by scores of 6-1 and 12-1 in Skyline Conference play on windy Sunday afternoon at Floyd Bennett Field.

NYU-Poly improves 5-1 in the conference as has climbed back to the .500 mark at 9-9. Purchase remains winless in the Skyline at 0-6 and falls to 3-7 overall.

In game one, Merilli had another perfect game going through 3 1/3 innings, but a pair of bunt singles by Purchase's Jill Lucas and Jenny Angelore broke up Merilli's attempt at a second straight perfect game. Lucas would later score the Panthers lone run.

Sophomore Corine Fitzgibbons (Brooklyn, NY) had the big hit for the Lady Jays, a solo home run to straight away center with the wind howling in during the fourth inning. Freshmen Megan Moran (Reno, NV) added a pair of doubles and an RBI for NYU-Poly.

Game two saw the bats come alive for NYU-Poly as they batted around in the first two innings, leading to a six spot in the first and four more runs in the second. Feist had a no-hitter through 3 1/3 innings but Purchase's Christine Leo ended that with a triple in the fourth. Feist ended the game with five strike outs and just one walk.

At the plate, Natalia Stockinger (Putnam Valley, NY) lined a three-run home run to left, with two outs, in the first to help NYU-Poly jump out to the early lead. Moran had a two-run shot in the second to round out the four run inning. Sophomore Annamarie Smith (Henderson, NV) was on base all four at bats, as she had a pair of singles, a walk, and was hit by a pitch.  Starting pitcher Erika Stahl hit six NYU-Poly batters and walked another four.

NYU-Poly will host John Jay on Wednesday in a non-conference double-header at 3:00pm.