Sarah Lawrence Nipped by New Rochelle

Thanks to Sarah Lawrence College Sports Information Director Paul Blascovich for the following:

Despite a dozen runs put on the scoreboard by the Gryphons, Sarah Lawrence College softball was nipped by College of New Rochelle, 17-12, in a high-scoring non-conference affair at Mary LeVine Field on Friday.

New Rochelle (3-10) struck first blood in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by first baseman Kristina Mirabile, giving the Blue Angels a 1-0 lead.

Sarah Lawrence (0-5) responded and took their first lead of the season in the bottom of the inning when a CNR fielding error gave the Gryphons a loaded pond with one out. Left fielder Leslie Martinez (Mission Viejo, Calif., Trabuco Hills ) brought one run across the plate on a fielder's choice and center fielder Anhad Hundal (New Delhi, India, Vasant Valley School) brought around a second run on an RBI walk.

Leading 2-1, the Green and White tacked on two more runs in the second inning when Hayley Adams (Dover, N.H., Berwick Academy) led off with a hit and was brought home on a fielder's choice. Hannah Gordon (Denver, Colo., George Washington) reached on balls and was also brought to the plate on a fielder's choice to give Sarah Lawrence a 4-1 advantage.

CNR regained control in a five-run third inning that saw six Blue Angel singles, two stolen bases and two Gryphon errors. The dust settled with New Rochelle back in front, 6-4.

The visitors tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning, including one on an RBI-double by catcher Genesis Garcia.

Sarah Lawrence's small-ball erased the four-run deficit in the bottom of the fourth. The Gryphons drew five walks in the inning and benefitted from a Blue Angel error, bringing a total of five runners to home plate for a 9-8 edge.

The Blue Angels went on the counterattack with four runs on four hits in the fifth, retaking the lead, 12-9.

The Gryphons brought shortstop Tori Himes (Boulder, Colo., New Vista) around in the bottom of the fifth, and in the sixth, they quickly loaded the bases with three consecutive bases on balls. A CNR error scored one run, while potential-tying run Gordon was nipped at the plate on an attempt to advance on a wild pitch.

College of New Rochelle carried a 12-11 advantage into the final inning, and the Blue Angels piled on five runs in the top half. Sarah Lawrence managed to score in the seventh, but the effort proved too little as CNR triumphed 17-12.

In the evening's nightcap, CNR took an 11-1 through three turns at the plate, but the game was halted due to darkness in the middle of the third inning.

Sarah Lawrence rookie pitcher Rebecca Kuntz (Northridge, Calif., Chaminade College Preparatory) had a season high six strikeouts while throwing no walks. Ten of the 17 runs against her were earned.

CNR pitcher Christine Biskup had three strikeouts from the circle while tossing 17 walks. She had seven wild throws with seven earned runs against her in her second win of the season.

Sarah Lawrence is next set to host Lehman College for a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon.