Adelphi University learned quite a few lessons Saturday.
In a 12-inning scrimmage, the softball team defeated visiting Adelphi 14-4, behind an offensive flurry and a parsimonious defense. The win evened the team’s fall season record at 1-1.
“The bats came alive,” left fielder Laura Beckert ’03 said.
After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, Elizabeth Peters ’05 tied the game with the first of team’s many RBIs. And the Elis never looked back.
Peters, team captain Jesseka Bartholomew ’03, Leah Kelley ’04, Britni Fabacher ’04, Amy Seese ’05, Chelsea Kanyer ’06, and Beth Pavlicek ’06 had at least two hits each, combining for 15 of the team’s 18 hits.
“I was really impressed with the offensive ability of our team,” said Bartholomew, the team’s All-Ivy third baseman. “We hit the ball very well, especially for our second game of the season.”
The entire four-pitcher staff saw action, giving up only two earned runs combined. Peggy Hunt ’06, Ashley Linnenbank ’06, and Pavlicek pitched three innings apiece, while Jillian Miles ’04 closed out the last two.
“Our pitching did much better,” assistant coach Barbara Reinalda said. “In general, I think [the team was] more excited to play.”
The improved offense helped the team look past its disappointing 4-3 loss to the University of New Haven last week in the City Series. And the team’s focus on improving its situational hitting over last year led to many two-out hits.
Also, the contributions of underclassmen at the plate and on the mound could bode well for this young team when the regular spring games roll around.
But first, the Elis will complete the last two games of their brief four-game fall on Oct. 12 and Oct. 13.
The first game, a late addition to the schedule, is a rematch against New Haven, while the team takes on Southern Connecticut the next day.
“We all want to prove to [New Haven] that the City Series was a fluke,” Beckert said. “We want to end on a good note on Sunday.”