BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (May 8, 2008) – Juniors Diana DiPiano (Valley Stream, N.Y.) and Jessica Vogt (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) combined to go 7-for-7 with six RBI and seven runs scored as the Adelphi Panthers came back from a 9-3 deficit to win by a final score of 13-10 over the Bears of New York Institute of Technology, in NCAA Northeast Regional Action on Thursday morning.
Adelphi improves to 41-20 on the season, while NYIT ends its season with a 29-18 record.
Adelphi jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, as sophomore outfielder Katie Brophy (Gig Harbor, Wash.) doubled and scored on DiPiano’s RBI double to left. Vogt’s two-run homerun to left field pushed two more runs across.
But NYIT came back for a monster second inning, capped by a grand slam from junior second baseman Lauren Sabia (Tuscon, Ariz.). The Bears also took advantage of two Panther errors in the inning, as seven of the runs were unearned.
Adelphi chipped away at the lead, scoring five runs in the third, two of them coming on Vogt’s second homer of the day, another shot to left. Senior outfielder Dely Francisco (Haverstraw, N.Y.)also added a triple and two RBI’s, scoring when the relay from the outfield got away from the NYIT third baseman to cut the Bear lead to 9-8.
Adelphi took a 10-9 lead with two runs in the fourth, one run coming off a Vogt double to the fence in center field, and the other when freshman designated player Deandra Leo (Miller Place, N.Y.) single to right field and the right fielder misplayed the ball, allowing Vogt to score from second.
Tech came back to tie the game at 10-10 in the fifth, as Sabia led off with a single to left and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Back-to-back singles by juniors Kate Thomas (Hicksville, N.Y.)and Rebecca Stein (Bay Shore, N.Y.) plated Sabia.
Adelphi took the lead for good with a three run fifth, as junior outfielder Samantha Johnston (Port Jervis, N.Y.) singled and DiPiano followed with a double to left field. With runners on second and third, Vogt hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Johnston. A walk to Leo and back-to-back singles by junior first baseman Christina O’Hara (Deer Park, N.Y.) and junior catcher Angela Martin (Wantagh, N.Y.) scored two more runs for the Panthers, pushing their lead to 13-10.
NYIT threatened in the top of the seventh, as freshman pitcher Marissa Brucculeri (Glen Head, N.Y.)and Thomas led off with singles, but Panther reliever Christine Robinson (Oceanside, N.Y.) induced a fly out, a line out, and a groundout to end the threat.
Both starting pitchers were knocked out early, and NYIT’s Nina Cesare (Whitestone, N.Y.) gave up five runs on seven hits in two innings of work, and Adelphi’s Julie Schaper (Warwick, N.Y.) was touched for nine hits on five runs in 1.1 innings. Brucculeri took the loss with 4 innings of 11 hit ball, giving up eight runs and striking out one. Robinson earned the win for the Panthers, throwing 5.2 innings and allowing just one run on five hits.
Adelphi will face Caldwell College, tomorrow, May 9, (weather pending) at 11:30 a.m.