Posted: Apr 10, 2010

WILDCATS TAME TIGERS IN DIII SOFTBALL ACTION

LONGMEADOW, Mass.- Bay Path’s hurling twosome senior Jess Nizinski (West Springfield, Mass.) and freshman Ashley Provost (Ludlow, Mass.) led the way for the Wildcats’ NCAA Division III doubleheader sweep of the Tigers of SUNY Cobleskill . Nizinski shut-down the Tigers 18-1 in the opener allowing only two hits and one run in her five innings of work. Provost went 5.0 innings as well giving up only six hits on three earned runs in the 20-12 six inning romp of Cobleskill.

Head Coach Steve Smith cleared the bench today allowing his entire roster of seventeen some significant playing time today. Sophomore infielder/pitcher Maeghan Whitcomb (Lyndon, Vt.) was offered her first collegiate shot in the circle in the nightcap of the doubleheader. She went one inning giving up four hits on eight runs, only one of which was earned. Whitcomb was on fire at the plate batting .857 (6-for-7) with two doubles, seven RBI’s, four runs and one stolen base.

In game one, Bay Path scored immediately with their lead-off batter Provost crossing the plate first after reaching on a walk and stealing second base. Senior Sarah Gates (Crown Point, Ind.) drove Provost home on a double shot to left field. Whitcomb proceeded to knock one up the middle to send Gates safely home for the eventual game winner for the Wildcats. Gates would finish 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBI.

Bay Path chipped in three more runs in the bottom of the second, beginning with Nizinski scoring on a throwing error by freshman shortstop Meagan Shay (White Plains, N.Y) after singling though the right side. Provost proceeded to slice a ball to shortstop grabbing the single on her speed. Provost would score on a well executed bunt by senior infielder Sam Gunseth (Swanzey, N.H.). Gunseth and Gates took advantage of their bunting skills and both notched singles off of well placed hits. Gunseth would score off another shot deep to left field by Whitcomb. Whitcomb would finish perfect going 3-for-3 with four RBI.

Bay Path already up by five sealed the deal in the bottom of the third with ten more runs and added three more insurance runs in the fourth. After taking the lead 18-0 in the fifth, unfortunately Nizinski gave up her one-hitter shut-out with Cobleskill’s senior catcher/pitcher Jessica Cole (Hobart, N.Y.) launching her first homer of the season over the left-center fence. Cole would again notch another homerun in game two of the doubleheader. Nizinski (6-7) fanned six batters.

Three hurlers saw the circle for Cobleskill. Junior starting pitcher Kathleen Dennis (Mount Vision, N.Y.) suffered the loss despite going only one inning. Dennis (1-6) gave up two runs on two hits before retiring due to an injury. Sophomore reliever Noelle Gushlaw (Germantown, N.Y.) faced 23 batters for her 1.2 innings allowing 13 runs on eight hits. She struck out two and walked ten. Finishing the game was Sophomore Natasha Mamrosh (Dolgeville, N.Y.). She walked five and had one strike-out, while giving up two hits and three runs.

In the nightcap, SUNY Cobleskill struck first scoring two runs. Freshman lead-off batter Ashlyn Siers (Cobleskill, N.Y.) walked and stole second. Sophomore infielder Danielle Swarm (Homer, N.Y.) launched a double to left field to score Siers. Swarm scored the second run off double by Cole.

Bay Path came out in the bottom of the first and scored seven runs. Provost and Gunseth both walked and scored on a Gates shot through the left side to start the ball rolling.

Bay Path would add two more runs to the tally in the second. Cobleskill would answer with one run in the third. And the Wildcats would add four more in retaliation.

The Flood gates would open up for the Tigers in the top of the fourth after some massive line-up changes for the Wildcats. Mamrosh would come up big for Cobleskill hammering a triple shot to deep centerfield plating three RBI’s. They would finish the inning with eight runs taking the mercy run rule away from the Wildcats.

Bay Path would score six more runs, unfortunately not enough to end the game.

Provost would come back to the circle for two more innings and only give up one more run. The Wildcats finally ended the scoring in the bottom of the sixth for the 20^th run to halt the game. Whitcomb would score that final run unearned on a passed ball by senior catcher Courtney Cardomone (Schenectady, N.Y.).

Cole (0-6) suffered the loss giving up 20 runs on 14 hits, only 13 earned. She would fan eight and walk eight batters.

Provost (5-4) struck-out seven and walked only one batter.

Bay Path gets back to .500 with an 11-11 record, while SUNY Cobleskill falls to 1-13. The Wildcats will be on the road tomorrow facing Mitchell College in another New England Collegiate Conference doubleheader at a 1:00 p.m. start.

GAME ONE (FULL BOX- http://athletics.baypath.edu/sports/sball/2009-10/stats/bps21.htm )

Bay Path 18, SUNY Cobleskill 1 (04/10/10 at Longmeadow, Mass.) (Game 1)

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SUNY Cobleskill..... 000 01 - 1 2 2 (1-12)

Bay Path............ 23(10) 3X - 18 12 0 (10-11)

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Pitchers: SUNY Cobleskill - Dennis; Gushlaw(2); Mamrosh(3) and White; Gushlaw. Bay Path -

Jess Nizinski and Jess Priestly.

Win-Jess Nizinski(6-7) Loss-Dennis(1-6) T-1:37 A-73

HR COBW2010 - Cole (1).

Weather: Windy, 56 degrees

Game: BPS21