Tough Start for Softball
Lady Jays Start California Trip 0-2
SAN MARCOS, CA - The NYU-Poly softball team began the 2011 campaign Sunday in San Marcos, California at the Cougar Clash Softball Tournament. The Lady Jays opended against NAIA power University of British Columbia.
NYU Poly made its tournament debut with a bang, as freshman outfielder Megan Moran (Reno, NV) hit a three-run home run in her first collegiate at-bat to get the Lady Jays off to a strong start. But it was British Columbia who prevailed in the end by a score of 12-9. The combination of getting a strong 4 1/3 innings in relief from pitcher Kelsey Andison, as well as a grand slam from Lindsay McElroy, coupled by three NYU-Poly errors led to the final result.
Sophomore Corine Fitzgibbons (Brooklyn, NY) gave the large contingent of West Coast NYU-Poly supporters something they missed last season - a big time home run - her first of the year. Fitzgibbons belted 15 round trippers last season to lead the Skyline Conference. Freshmen Ryane Pappa (Naperville, IL) had a strong debut as she went 2-for-2 at the plate.
NYU-Poly pounded out 11 hits to BC's 10, with sophomore Annamarie Smith (Henderson, NV) and freshmen Brianna Feist (San Diego, CA) added a pair of hits for NYU-Poly. Sophomore Miranda Merilli (Altoona, PA) was tagged with the loss going 3 2/3 innings and allowing seven hits and eight runs, six of which were earned.
NYU Poly did bring the tying run to the plate in the seventh inning, but Andison struck out the game’s final batter to close out the win.
In game two of the day for the Lady Jays, the bats went silent against a very solid pitching performance from #13 ranked Dickinson State's Taysia Kaufman was near perfect on the mound, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out five to pick up the 9-1 win in five innings. A six run outburst by Dickinson in the second inning proved too much to overcome.
Smith had the lone RBI for NYU-Poly in the first inning and sophomore Shelby Bruns (Elko, NV) added the other hit for the Lady Jays. Feist took the loss in her collegiate debut on the mound, allowing six hits and seven runs, only two of which were earned.
NYU-Poly will return to the field today, looking for win number on against the host Cal State-San Marcos and Hope International.
