Posted: Apr 02, 2022

Thunderwolves Take 2 from Spartans

Centerfielder Lexie Cottrill makes a diving catch in the second game against Niagara CCC on Saturday. The Spartans lost both games by scores of 20-12 and 17-9.

Cayuga Community College Softball lost both ends of a home doubleheader Saturday to Niagara County Community College.

Despite two solid games from their lineup, the Spartans couldn't quite keep pace with the strong-hitting Thunderwolves, losing by scores of 20-12 and 17-9. Cayuga is now 1-5 on the season.

After surrendering three first-inning runs in the first game, the Spartans roared back with four of their own in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead. Consecutive doubles from Doray DiLallo and Lexie Cottrill drove-in runs, and a single by Hailey Short scored Cottrill later in the inning.

The lead was short-lived, and the Spartans found themselves trailing by 11 in the fifth when they responded with seven runs to climb back into the game. Lucy Noble singled home a run after the first three batters of the inning reached safely, and Abigail Marinelli's groundout scored another. Two batters later, Cottrill's double scored two before a single by Taylor Hunter scored Cottrill. Hunter scored the final run of the inning on a single by Tori Mandel.

Cayuga trailed by four after the inning but didn't score the rest of the way. DiLallo went three-for-five in the first game with a double, triple, three runs and two RBI. Cottrill was also three-for-five with two doubles, two runs scored and four RBI. Short collected three hits, and Noble and Mandel had two hits apiece.

The Spartans led early in the second game before the Thunderwolves plated five in the second. Cayuga responded with two more in the third when Hunter doubled home DiLallo and Cottrill, then scored five more in the fourth. Singles by Brittney Waters and Noble started the rally, and DiLallo smashed a bases-loaded triple before scoring on Hunter's two-out single.

The Thunderwolves reclaimed the lead, though, and Cayuga didn't score after the fourth inning. DiLallo went two-for-three with a triple, three RBI and three runs scored, and Marinelli went two-for-four with three runs scored. Hunter went two-for-four with four RBI.

Cayuga is back home Saturday, April 9, against Finger Lakes Community College. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for noon.