Press Releases

May 08, 2001
Lady Colonials Take Eventual-Champ Queens to the Brink in Softball

Contact:
Darren Johnson
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081

A young Southampton College softball team comprised almost wholly of freshmen and sophomores took veteran Queens College to the brink of elimination Friday in the first round of the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference playoffs played at New York Tech.

In a 3-2 loss, freshman phenom pitcher Shayma Hill gave up her only earned run as Queens got the winning RBI with two outs in the seventh off a hit that hopped over the third-base bag. Queens (30-17, 17-5), a No. 3 seed, eventually won the NYCAC title and is off to the NCAA Tournament. No. 6 Southampton (13-27, 10-12), meanwhile, hopes the hard-fought game is an encouraging sign for next year, as all key Colonials are due to return.

"They definitely left their hearts on the field," said first-year head coach Cassie Arroyo. "Shayma did an excellent job against Queens. They led the conference in hits and she limited them to four. The defense behind her was extraordinary, too."

It was Southampton College's first playoff appearance since 1992. The Colonials qualified for the post-season in 1997, but, in a unique NYCAC ruling, were forced to cede to a higher ranked team because of a rainout, without playing a game.

In the first inning on Friday, the Colonials drew first blood. Jen Maiorini reached on an error and went to second base on a wild pitch. She was driven home by Erin Molloy's double to center field. In the fourth inning, Hill started the inning with a walk and went to third on a fielder's choice and passed ball. Karen Geaney hit a hard grounder to first that was bobbled and Hill made it home.

Hill was pitching a no-hitter through four innings, but Queens scored two in the fifth on a passed ball and error. With a ball that danced along the third-base chalk, Queens' Stephanie Santoro doubled in the bottom of the seventh with two outs to drive in Danielle Battaglia and give Queens the win.

"Queens coach Brian DeMasters paid us a very high compliment when he told me that we gave them the toughest competition of the tournament," Arroyo said. "That's not to bad, considering we're returning all but two players."