DELHI, N.Y. (April 18, 2021) – Seventh-inning Cazenovia runs lined up SUNY Delhi softball's fate to open their NAC West series with the Wildcats Sunday afternoon. The Broncos led, 1-0, through the first five frames in the opener before Caz tied it up in the sixth and added two in the seventh for a 3-1 decision. The Wildcats then broke a 3-3 tie in the nightcap with another seventh-inning run for a 4-3 score. The Broncos and Wildcats are back in action Monday to close out their series.

Between the games, Delhi's four seniors – Dakota Baker, Shelby Nolan, Jaylynn Sheppard, and Mackenzie Sparacino – were honored for their indelible contributions to the program over the last four years. Baker (Bogota, NJ) will receive her Bachelor's in Culinary Arts, Nolan (Ansonia, CT) in Veterinary Science, Sheppard (Queens, NY) in Mechatronics, and Sparacino (Copake, NY) will finish her degree in Nursing.

GAME ONE: CAZENOVIA 3, DELHI 1

Kayla Beers put Delhi in front at the outset with a sacrifice fly in the first. The game moved scoreless over the next four innings, thanks in part to pitcher Mel Papuli fanning 11 batters and stranding 12 on base. Cazenovia inched along in the sixth by moving runner Sarah Penny to second on a sacrifice bunt. Caila Benning brought her home on the next at bat on a two-out RBI single up the middle. The Wildcats then pounced on the lead in the seventh with a Megan Krieger RBI double and an Olivia Simone RBI single.

Shelby Nolan batted 3-for-4 with one stolen base, as Mackenzie Sparacino went 1-for-4 with one stolen base. Along with 2-for-3 showings from Katelynn Rose and Carissa Crandall, the Broncos combined for ten hits, leaving eight on base.

GAME TWO: CAZENOVIA 4, DELHI 3

Delhi again took control in the first inning when Katelynn Rose sliced a bases-loaded shot to right field that bounced off Airelle Jacquette's glove to clear the bases for a 3-0 lead. Rose's swing gave her a three-run lead to work with as the pitcher, but not without a threat from Cazenovia two innings later. The Wildcats got one run back in the third on a Caitlin Kelleher RBI single. With two outs and two on, Megan Krieger hooked a shot to right field, where a running Rachael Scoones could not make the grab as two came across to tie the game.

The contest remained scoreless through a swift next three innings until the Wildcats were on the prowl in the seventh inning. With two outs and a runner on first, Caitlin Kellher had a single to put runners at first and second. After a pinch runner was brought in to run at second, Megan Krieger again provided the late heroics for Caz with the go-ahead RBI single on the ensuing at bat.

Delhi was held to four hits, with Mackenzie Sparacino batting 2-fo-3 with one stolen base and Shelby Nolan and Jessica Kwasnik each tallying one hit. Rose finished allowing two earned runs on nine hits with one strikeout.