Article written by Patrick Smith, Sports Information Intern

MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The Morrisville State College softball team took the field for a double-header against North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) opponent Penn College, dropping the first game 6-2 before falling 16-4 in the second game.

This game marked the ending of a weeklong campaign, raising awareness for cancer research by partnering with both the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and the American Cancer Society.

The Mustangs falls to a 3-13 conference record, 7-23 overall, while the Penn College Wildcats move to 8-6 in NEAC play, and 14-13 overall.

In the first game of today's action, Morrisville's pitcher Brittany Keator (Roxbury, N.Y.) and Penn College's pitcher Amanda Kustanbauter were in a pitching duel in the first two innings that kept the score even until Amanda Labe (Friedensburg, PA.) crushed a double to the fence that scored Paula Conklin (Sparrowbush, N.Y.).

The score would stay at 1-0 until Penn College pushed across two runs in the top of the sixth inning to retake the lead 2-1. In the bottom of the inning, Labe hit another Mustang home as Brianna Martin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored to even the game at two apiece. Penn College would respond by scoring four more runs in the top of seventh inning to finish off the game.

Labe set the pace for the Mustangs in the game by going 3-4 at the plate, and contributing with two RBI's. Nicole Chiappetta (Trumball, Conn.) and Bailey Dillabough (Massena, N.Y.) each went 2-3 on the day. Paula Conklin (Sparrowbush, N.Y.) rounded out the Mustangs hitting by going 1-3 in the game.

Keator picked up the loss on the mound for the Mustangs, giving up six runs off of eight hits, and had five strikeouts. Kustanbauter picked up the win on the mound for the Wildcats, giving up two runs off of eight hits, and striking out seven.

In the second game of today's action, Penn College jumped out to a quick nine run lead off of two homeruns in the frame. Morrisville would chip away at the lead in the bottom of the inning, when Nicole Chiappetta (Trumball, Conn.) reached on an error that allowed Labe to score.

After two innings of scoreless ball for the Mustangs, Elizabeth Miller (East Greenbush, N.Y.) stepped up to the plate with bases loaded and cranked a two out double to the fence that scored Dillabough, Conklin, and Martin to cut the lead to 9-4.

Morrisville's pitcher Allison McGuire (Gilboa, N.Y.) would continue to shut out the Wildcats for the fifth straight inning until the top of the seventh, where Penn College would add seven more runs to push the score to 16-4.  The Mustangs would threaten in the bottom of the seventh but were unable to push across any runs.

Dillabough set the pace in the second game by going 3-4 at the plate. Miller added three RBI's, while going 1-3 from the plate.  Labe, Conklin, Holly Gamlen (Cazenovia, N.Y.) each contributed with at hit.

Erika Kenney (Duanesburg, N.Y.) picked up the loss on the mound for the Mustangs, giving up seven runs off of five hits in the first inning. Taylor Brooks picked up the win for the Wildcats, giving up four runs off of two hits.

Morrisville State College's curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for the opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.

The college was ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges 2016 issue and was also recognized in the Top Public Schools, Regional Colleges North in the 2016 Best Colleges rankings. For more information about Morrisville State College, visit www.morrisville.edu.

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