MARCY, N.Y. (April 25, 2021) – The SUNY Delhi softball team took three out of four from SUNY Poly this weekend in a pivotal NAC West series. After splitting the Saturday twin bill and sweeping the Sunday doubleheader, the Broncos wrapped up their NAC West regular season with a respectable 10-6 league record. The team now awaits it fate for a possible bid in the NAC West Championship as member schools complete the remainder of their seasons. Delhi currently sits in second place, with Cazenovia currently in first with a 6-2 NAC West mark. Delhi and Caz split their series last week.

The Broncos have a non-conference date at SUNY Oneonta this Wednesday.

DAY ONE GAME ONE: DELHI 4, POLY 2 (EIGHT INNINGS)

Both Delhi pitcher Katelynn Rose and Poly's Caitlin Reilly dealt five innings of shutout ball, with each allowing just six hits. The Broncos inched ahead in the sixth when a wild pitch sent Mackenzie Sparacino home. Jessica Kwasnik's sacrifice fly in the seventh offered Delhi an insurance run in the seventh, only for the Wildcats to post up a pair of runs in the bottom half to go into extras. The Broncos regained their two-run lead in the top of the eighth thanks to a throwing error on a Carissa Crandall sac bunt bringing home Rachael Scoones, followed by a Shelby Nolan drive to left field that resulted in an error to send home Crandall.

Rose allowed only six hits with no earned runs, while delivering one double at the plate. Mel Papuli batted 1-for-2 with one walk , while Dakota Baker went 2-for-3 and Sparacino 2-for-4 with one stolen base.

DAY ONE GAME TWO: POLY 3, DELHI 1

Delhi hoped to get a change of pace going for game two with an early second-inning run off a Mackenzie Sparacino RBI single. However, it would be Poly who answered with three unearned runs in the bottom half of the second and never let up. Rendered hitless for four of the last five innings, the Broncos lone rally attempt was putting up a bases-loaded fight in the sixth, but to no avail. Delhi again was held to six hits with no extra-bases. Sparacino, Kayla Beers, Katelynn Rose, Mel Papuli, Jessica Kwasnik, and Rachael Scoones all had one hit. Papuli delivered six innings of work, allowing no earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts.

DAY TWO GAME ONE: DELHI 5, POLY 1

As pitcher Mel Papuli found a groove early with retiring the side in the first and second innings, the Broncos picked her up with a three-spot in the third, courtesy of a Mackenzie Sparacino RBI single, followed by a two-RBI double from Kayla Beers. Delhi picked up another run in the fourth off a Carissa Crandall groundout to bring home Jessica Kwasnik. Dakota Baker batted 3-for-3 with two doubles, with her last connection driving home Papuli in the sixth off a two-bagger to left center.

Papuli pitched seven innings of four-hit ball, striking out six and surrendering her lone earned run in the bottom of the sixth. Baker represented three of the Broncos' seven hits, as Papuli and Katelynn Rose accounted for the team's remaining hits.

DAY TWO GAME TWO: DELHI 5, POLY 4

For the first time in the series, the Wildcats drew first in the finale with a two-run third. The Broncos answered right back in the fourth by loading the bases, leading to an error that sent home Shelby Nolan, followed by Kitty Messina's two-RBI single down the right field line. Delhi then added two more runs in the fifth with a Dakota Baker RBI double down the left field line and pitcher Katelynn Rose's RBI single. Despite 13 Wildcats hits, Rose allowed runs sparingly, holding down Poly when they threatened with one run each in the fifth and seventh to hold on to the win. The sophomore finished with just two earned runs allowed with one strikeout, while batting 3-for-4 with one ribbie.

The Broncos connected for eight hits, as Messina, Baker, Shelby Nolan, Kayla Beers, and Jessica Kwasnik each having one hit.