MORRISVILLE, N.Y. (April 4, 2019) – The SUNY Delhi softball team posted a doubleheader sweep at Morrisville State on Thursday, marking their first two-win, one-day triumph in their NCAA Division III chapter. The Broncos broke a 4-4 tie in the first game with a run each in the sixth and seventh innings for a 6-4 victory, then brought the aluminum in the nightcap for a 12-1, five-inning win. Head coach Meagan Hillard's team improved to 3-5, with their next test set at ACAA-opponent Pine Manor this Saturday, beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Center fielder Sierra Keesler combined for a 4-for-8 day at the plate, hitting three home runs, including one grand slam, with one double and seven RBI's, where she plated five in the latter game. Pitcher Molly Greene earned the win in both games, administering 10.0 total innings and giving up just five earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. Third baseman and leadoff hitter Natasha Picozzi served as a triple threat in the field, at the plate, and on the base paths. She made several key defensive plays to help the team win the tight first game, and had all three of her hits on the day become triples, while driving in two runs.
DELHI 6, MORRISVILLE STATE 4
Despite scoring just one run overall in their Wednesday twin bill versus SUNY Cobleskill, Delhi got cracking right away with three in the first against the Mustangs. Shelby Nolan brought home Corra Nocella for the first run, with the other two coming on wild pitches. Though Morrisville answered with two in the bottom half, Sierra Keesler rounded the bases for an inside-the-park homer in the third to put Delhi ahead, 4-2. This still didn't deter the Mustangs, who tied the game in the fifth on one swing of the bat with a Chyne Kennedy two-RBI single. But the Broncos quickly got back in front the next inning, when Jaylynn Sheppard reached first on a two-out error by the catcher, permitting Haylee Lefebvre to score.
Lefebvre then took over on the mound in the bottom half to defend the win for Molly Greene, who allowed four earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work. Lefebvre's task would not come easy to start off. Morrisville quickly put runners on first and third with no outs. Skylar Girard then hit a comebacker to Lefebvre, who threw home to put out the charging Meleena Mortimer to preserve the lead. Now with Mustangs on first and second and one away, Lefebvre got Jessie Davis to ground out at third for two outs, albeit having the runners advance to second and third. That was when Delhi's defense stepped in to make arguably its biggest web gem of the season. Ciera Sprague hit a liner to the left side, which third baseman Natasha Picozzi pulled out of the air with a jumping grab to get the Broncos out of the frame unscathed. Delhi picked up an insurance run in the seventh off another Keesler home run, giving the Broncos extra room to close things out. Morrisville put a runner on first with one out, only for Lefebvre to retire the next two batters.
Keesler went 2-for-4 off her two dingers for two RBI's. Samantha Mendelsohn batted 2-for-4 with one double, while Picozzi was 1-for-4 with one triple. Lefebvre allowed just four hits in her 2.0 innings of shutout work.
DELHI 12, MORRISVILLE STATE 1
The Broncos combined for a season-best 15 hits, including five with multi-hit games. Sierra Keesler finished 2-for-4 with a grand slam and a double for 5 RBI's. Natasha Picozzi batted 2-for-3 with two triples, each bringing in a run for 2 RBI's. Shelby Nolan was 3-for-4 with one RBI, while Dakota Baker was 2-for-4 with two RBI's. Pitcher Molly Greene helped her cause, batting 2-for-3 with one RBI, while giving up just one earned run on eight hits and facing only 22 batters.
Despite this, the game was actually scoreless through two innings. That was when Delhi's offense shifted into another gear, starting with Keesler's grand slam putting Delhi up, 4-0. Greene then added a run, driving in Baker on a two-out single to make the score 5-0. While the Mustangs got one back in the third, Delhi continued its work in the batter's box. Picozzi got her first triple in the fourth to bring home Mackenzie Sparacino, then was brought home shortly later on a Baker two-RBI single to bring the Broncos up to 7-1. Delhi carried on in the fifth to put the final touches on the victory with five runs. Jaylynn Sheppard started things off with an RBI single, followed by Picozzi's second three-bagger that brought Sheppard in. Nolan later singled to bring in Picozzi, followed by Keesler doubling to get Nolan home.
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