Kats Drop Heartbreaker, Then Get Shut Out in Doubleheader at Adirondack

SUNY Erie Women's Softball endured a tough Saturday on the road, falling twice to SUNY Adirondack in a doubleheader marked by a late-game collapse and a pitcher's duel that slipped away.

In the opener, Erie saw an 8-4 advantage disappear in the final inning, as Adirondack walked it off for a 9-8 win. The Kats looked in control early, jumping out in the first when Hailey Wisser delivered an RBI single as part of a two-hit frame. Erie added to its lead in the third, capitalizing on an Adirondack error to stretch the margin to 4-0.

The offense kept rolling in the fifth when Haley Wackowski electrified the game with an inside-the-park home run, helping Erie build what seemed to be a comfortable lead. Despite out-hitting Adirondack 9-6, the Kats couldn't hold on.

Adirondack mounted its comeback in the bottom of the seventh, taking advantage of defensive miscues to tie the game before a sacrifice bunt by Cam McClurg brought home the winning run.

Natalie Witt and Wackowski each tallied two hits to pace Erie, while Haley Lerner drove in two runs. Wisser added pressure on the bases with three stolen bags as Erie totaled four steals and five walks.

In the circle, Grace Szpylman was dominant at times, striking out 13 over 6.1 innings, but only two of the nine runs she allowed were earned, as defensive struggles proved costly.

Game two turned into a tight, low-scoring battle, but Erie came up just short in a 1-0 defeat. Adirondack struck early with a solo home run in the first inning, and that proved to be the difference.

Amelia Potter delivered a strong performance in the circle, allowing just one run on three hits over seven innings while striking out four. However, Erie's offense couldn't break through despite collecting three hits.

Ashlyn Pignone, Wackowski, and Carly Fraser each recorded a hit, with Pignone swiping two bases to spark the offense. Still, Adirondack's pitching held firm to complete the sweep.