BRONX, N.Y. (March 31, 2019) – A ten-run fifth carried the SUNY Delhi softball team to their first-ever NCAA victory at John Jay on Saturday in the opening game of a road doubleheader with the Bloodhounds. The two teams took the field at Fordham University's Bahoshy Softball Complex, splitting five-inning wins. The Broncos nabbed game one, 15-3, while John Jay won game two, 12-3.
Saturday's opening-game triumph marked Delhi's first win in NCAA Division III, as well as the first career win for first-year head coach Meagan Hillard. The women stand at 1-3 following back-to-back road doubleheaders to start the season. The Broncos met Penn State Brandywine on Friday, falling in both games despite close efforts. Delhi carries on with its season Monday, facing Cazenovia starting at 3:00 p.m. at Hopkins Road Park in Liverpool, NY, before making its home debut with SUNY Cobleskill on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.
GAME ONE: DELHI 15, JOHN JAY 3
The Broncos took authority immediately with a two-run first and a three-run second for a 5-0 lead after two innings. The first two runs came in when Samantha Mendelsohn reached base on an error by the third baseman, prompting Sierra Keesler and Haylee Lefebvre to score. Mackenzie Sparacino got Delhi's next run with an RBI double down the left field line, followed by a Keesler two-out RBI single. Lefebvre reached first on a dropped fly at third base for Sparacino to score. Though John Jay answered with three runs over the third and fourth to cut its deficit to 5-3, the Broncos bat got red hot in the fifth, scoring ten runs in the frame on seven hits. Natasha Picozzi started the scoring spree getting two across on a single, then advancing on an error. She then came around home on a Shelby Nolan RBI double to make it 8-3. Keesler brought Nolan home on an RBI single, and following a Mendelsohn walk to put two runners on, Lefebvre delivered a three-run home run to left to put the Broncos ahead, 12-3. Yesileidy Paulino got in on the action with an RBI double, and was later brought home on a Jaylynn Sheppard single. Sparacino closed out the scoring with an RBI single, bringing home Sheppard.
Lefebvre pitched all five innings, allowing no earned runs on seven hits with two strikeouts. Keesler batted 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Paulino went 3-for-4 with two doubles and one RBI. Sparacino was 2-for-5 with one double and a pair of RBIs, as Nolan went 2-for-4 with one RBI and Sheppard 2-for-3 with one RBI.
GAME TWO: JOHN JAY 12, DELHI 3
After the Bloodhounds struck first in the bottom of the first with a run, the Broncos took a 2-1 lead in the second due in part to a Mackenzie Sparacino groundout bringing Dakota Baker home, followed by Natasha Picozzi singling home an RBI. But a three-run second and a five-run third thrusted John Jay ahead, 9-3, with three more runs in the fifth giving the Bloodhounds a mercy victory. Delhi committed six errors in the nightcap.
Starter Molly Greene pitched 2.2 innings, allowing seven earned runs in 11 hits with one strikeout. Lefebvre pitched the remainder, giving up three earned runs on four hits with two strikeouts. Samantha Mendelsohn batted a perfect 2-for-2, while Sierra Keesler was 1-for-3 with one triple.
