The Falcon softball team swept the CSU Dome Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio on Sunday, Saturday and Friday. They won Sunday’s game against the Robert Morris Colonials 8-1, the pair of Saturday games against the Niagara Purple Eagles and Canisius Golden Griffins 4-0 and 8-0 respectively, and a pair of Friday games against Niagara and host Cleveland State Vikings 4-0 and 10-3 respectively.
On Sunday, the Falcons were able to start off the game with a bang, as freshman infielder Sammy Dees hit an RBI double to lead off the scoring in the first inning, followed by senior shortstop Aspen Searle, hitting a two-run homer to give the team the early 3-0 lead. The team would not look back, as junior infielder Kaylee Parker had two RBI, Dees had a solo home run and junior outfielder Alex Sorgi and senior Laine Simmons all had RBIs throughout the course of the game. Junior pitcher Meredith Miller had a perfect game going through the fourth inning and finished with a complete game with just two hits allowed.
Saturday’s game against Niagara saw both teams go scoreless until the third inning, when Searle hit an RBI triple for the game’s opening run. The inning continued as junior outfielder Kali Holcomb scored an RBI double and freshman infielder Nikki Sorgi hit an RBI single to make it a 3-0 game. Kaylee Parker finished off the scoring with an RBI single. Although neither team would score for the remainder of the game, junior pitcher Brooke Parker would hold Niagara scoreless to give the Falcons the 4-0 win.
“The team did a great job picking up defensively and offensively from yesterday’s games,” head coach Sarah Willis said. “We knew what type of pitchers we would be facing and had good adjustments at the plate in the third inning. Brooke did a great job keeping the Niagara hitters off balance with her repertoire of pitches. She mixed it well throughout the seven innings and finished stronger than she started. In the third we ignited a sense of urgency with the offense by hitting good pitches early in the count and when we stay aggressive good things happen.”
The team finished the Saturday doubleheader against Canisius and started strong with an RBI single from freshman infielder Sarah Gonzalez in the second inning and an RBI fielder’s choice from Simmons in the fourth. In the fifth inning, however, the offense exploded for the Falcons as Dees hit a solo homer, followed up by Holcomb with a two-run shot, making it a 5-0 lead. Holcomb would later add a pair of RBIs, and junior pitcher Kiley Sosby tacked on another RBI as the Falcons took the 8-0 win after six innings due to the mercy rule.
“The team capitalized on Canisius defense and had some hits fall to our advantage,” Willis said. “Our base runners did a great job being aggressive which allowed for them to capitalize on the defensive mistakes. It’s great to see the freshman step up in big opportunities early this season. They are a very capable group and eager to make an impact.”
On Friday, the team faced Niagara in the first game of the doubleheader, where both teams went scoreless until the fifth inning, where Holcomb got an RBI single to put the Falcons ahead 1-0. In the seventh, the team was able to increase their lead as Dees had an RBI single, Holcomb had an RBI double and Gonzalez hit an RBI sacrifice fly to put themselves ahead for good as they took the 4-0 win. Miller allowed only one hit over all seven innings to take the complete game shutout.
“We had some hard hits early in the game but couldn’t string them together until late in the game,” Willis said. “Miller had a great outing today and was consistent for the defense. She threw to her strengths and did a nice job working ahead in the count. Starting off with a win is always huge for confidence and momentum into the season. It is early so we are just trying to focus on one opponent at a time.”
In the second game on Friday against Cleveland State, the Falcons pulled ahead early as Alex Sorgi scored on a wild pitch and Searle hit an RBI single and while Cleveland State would get a run of their own in the fourth, the Falcons would come back with RBI singles from sophomore outfielder Kendyl Wheeler and Nikki Sorgi. Cleveland State closed the gap back on a two run home run, however the Falcons offense once again got on a roll late as Gonzalez got a solo home run and Dees hit an RBI single, finished off by a grand slam from Holcomb to make it a 10-3 victory for the Falcons.
“It was great to see our offense make adjustments early in the game and to get on the board sooner,” Willis said. “We were a lot more disciplined at the plate in our second game. Holcomb’s grand slam was a build up of quality at bats throughout the day and disciplined hitting. She went up to the plate with a plan and executed it well with her focus. By the end of the day our offense was producing from top to bottom. Hitting is contagious and the team did a great job putting at bats together.”
The team will next play on Friday, Saturday and Sunday against the North Texas Mean Green, Elon Phoenix, Rhode Island Rams and the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers in the Elon Softball Classic in Elon, N.C.
