WHITTIER, CA. -- The Oneonta softball team's California Spring Break play began with a split decision in a doubleheader against Whittier College, Saturday afternoon. The Red Dragons fell in game one, 9-1 in five innings, then they won game two against the Poets, 6-4. The twin bill results improved Oneonta to 2-4 this season and Whittier to 7-7 overall.
Senior
Jaime Cardello (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas) recorded her first career home run with a grand slam in game two and finished the game 2-for-4 with four RBI and a stolen base. Sophomore
Kayla Kean (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Shenendehowa) finished the day 3-for-5 with a home run in game one. Senior
Abigail Silliman (Rensselaer, N.Y./Columbia) went 3-for-4 in the game two victory.
"I am super proud of the team today bouncing back from a tough first game," said Head Coach
Sara Curran-Headley. "Hitters came alive in game two and we had a great pitching effort from
Anna Torgersen (Chester, NJ/Mendham). Good Split!"
Game One: Oneonta 1, Whittier 9 (5 Innings)
Whittier took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of game one with a pair of RBI singles. The Poets extended their lead to seven with five runs in the third inning.
Kean got the Red Dragons on the board in the top of the fifth inning with a solo shot to right center for her first home run of the season and the fourth of her career. In the bottom half of the inning, Whittier put the game away with two more RBI singles.
Kean, senior
Emily Brown (Westbury, NY/Clarke), and sophomore
Emma Moore (Walden, N.Y./Valley Central) all finished the game 1-for-2.
Freshman
Caitlin McTiernan (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph by the Sea) (0-2) received the loss after pitching 0.2 innings, allowing two runs on two hits. Sophomore
Bridget Barry (East Patchogue, N.Y.) pitched 2.0 innings, struck out one, and allowed five runs on three hits. Sophomore
Tanner Smith (White Plains, N.Y./Vahalla) pitched 2.0 innings, struck out two, and allowed two runs on four hits.
Bella Peinado (3-3) picked up the win after pitching 5.0 innings, striking out one, and allowing one run on three hits.
Game Two: Oneonta 6, Whittier 4
Cardello put the Red Dragons ahead in game two with her grand slam to left field on a 2-2 count. Oneonta loaded the bases for their senior third baseman after Kean singled down the left field line, sophomore
Tatum Passonno (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) singled to short, then Moore got hit by a pitch.
In the top of the fifth, the Red Dragons increased their lead to 6-0. Moore led the inning off with a single up the middle, then freshman
Kendall Ward (Manorville, NY/Eastport-South Manor) pinch ran and reached third base on a fielding error that also allowed Cardello to reach second. Ward crossed home for the first run on a passed ball during freshman
Sara Kropp's (Stony Brook, NY/Ward Melville) at bat. On the following pitch, Kropp hit a grounder to second base and scored Cardello for her first collegiate RBI.
Whittier recorded an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth inning for their first run, then they totaled three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the deficit to two, 6-4. The Poets loaded the bases in the final inning with two outs, but McTiernan got the Red Dragons out of the jam as Olivia Butler hit a ground ball straight to her and McTiernan threw it home for the final out of the game.
Senior
Anna Torgersen (Chester, NJ/Mendham) (1-0) earned the win after pitching 4.0 innings, striking out one, and allowing one run on five hits. McTiernan (1) received her first career save after pitching the final 1.1 innings, striking out one, while allowing no runs or hits.
During the top of the second inning, freshman
Rylee McGinness (East Quogue, NY/Westhampton Beach) recorded her first career hit with a two-out single to left field on a 2-0 count.
Alyssa Castillo (0-1) received the loss for Whittier after she pitched 2.1 innings and allowed two runs on five hits. Mariah Zapata pitched 1.2 innings and allowed 4 runs on three hits.
Oneonta will continue their Spring Break play on Tuesday, March 17, with a doubleheader against California Lutheran starting at 3 pm (EST), 12 pm (PST).
