The New York University softball team played a pair of games in Clermont, FL, on Saturday, March 7, to kick off its inaugural varsity season.
The Violets (0-2) began with an early match-up against Elizabethtown College (3-6), which they dropped 7-0, followed by a tough 8-5 loss vs. Emerson College (2-0).
"It felt great to get these first two under our belt," said NYU Head Coach
Now-Allah James. "We did a lot of good things and got better each and every inning. I am so proud of the way we performed and am looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow."
Against the Blue Jays,
Sage Scheiwiller got the start. The freshman hurler went 3.2 innings, allowing seven runs (four earned) before
Jacqueline Tremblay replaced her to pitch the final 2.1 innings.
The first-ever strikeout came via Scheiwiller in the bottom of the second. In addition, the 5-foot-7 pitcher from Spokane, WA, notched the first-ever hit in program history when she tripled to right in the top of the fifth.
NYU's offense broke out in the following game against the Lions. The Violets allowed a run in the top of the first, but came back to take their first lead in program history in the bottom of the inning.
Batting secondd, shortstop
Kahala Bonsignore reached on a single. Scheiwiller, who played second base for the majority of the game, followed with a double to put runners on second and third for NYU with just one out. Catcher
Val Schwein knocked in the first two RBIs in program history when she doubled home Bonsignore and Scheiwiller to give the Violets a 2-1 lead, which would be the score heading into the third.
After a four-run top of the third for Emerson, neither team would produce any offense until the Lions took a 6-2 lead in the top of the sixth. The Violets would answer in the bottom of the inning with a run of their own. Schwein and third baseman
Molly Webber reached on a pair of singles. After a groundout,
Lauren Parnaby entered the game as a pinch hitter. The junior grounded out to third but recorded the RBI as Schwein scored on the play.
Emerson followed with a two-run seventh, which was countered by two runs from NYU in the bottom half of the inning to close out the contest.
Marisa Bella led off with a bunt single and then swiped second on a steal. A single from centerfielder
Colby Tarsitano then put runners on the corners. Bonsignore reached on an error, which led to Tarsitano advancing from first to third as Bella crossed home plate. Scheiwiller then brought Tarsitano home with a sacrifice fly to complete the scoring for the game.
HIGHLIGHTS: - Bonsignore went 1-for-3 against the Blue Jays.
- Schwein finished the game against Emerson 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two RBIs.
- Webber was 3-for-4 with three singles against the Lions.
- Tarsitano was 2-for-4 with a run scored against Emerson.
- Scheiwiller was 2-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored and a double against the Lions.
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Becky Laitman was 1-for-3 as the designated player against Emerson.
NYU will return to the field when it faces Transylvania University at 5:00 pm on Sunday, March 8. The Violets then face Thiel College for a scheduled 7:00 pm start. Both contests will take place in Clermont, FL.
