Albertus Softball Takes Early Lead but falls to Nanuet

Albertus Magnus Softball could not take advantage of an early lead on Friday as Nanuet hit hard to win the game, 8-4.

Both teams came out and played hard in a game that the Falcons had under control for the first half of the game.  Putting them on the board was Erin Harding, who was two of four for the night with two RBIs.  Melissa Place had a good night as well.  She was three of four with two triples and one RBI.  Caitlin Bailey was the final scorer of the night, batting one of three with one RBI.

By the top of the fourth, the Falcons were up 4-1 thanks to Harding's hit in the first and three runs scored by her, Place and Bailey in the third.  Nicole Paciello was pitching a great game as well to keep the Knights to only one run.  With a runner on second and two outs, Nisha Flinn hit a line drive down the first baseline.  Marie Lang tracked the ball and dove for it, however she just missed the catch and it fell in for a double to bring Janine Mackey home.  Kerri Brezovsky then hit a single off of Paciello to bring the home the final run of the inning.

Neither team could score another run through the bottom of the fifth thanks to excellent pitching and fielding on both sides.  Then came the top of the sixth when the Knights went on the offensive and successfully connected again and again with the ball.  Though many of these hits would have been easy outs, the Falcons allowed five unearned runs after a series of unfortunate errors.  This brought Nanuet's Knights into the lead, 8-4.

Nicole Paciello left the game in the bottom of the sixth after allowing only three earned runs in six innings.  Catherine Coyne came in to replace her and didn't allow any runs.  Unfortunately, the Falcons could not recover from the difficult inning and the game finished at 8-4.

Though both teams came in and played some excellent softball, the Knights were able to bring home the win due to the unfortunate errors by the Falcons in the sixth.  With a record of 7-11, Nanuet needed the win as much as Albertus, which ended Friday with a record of 8-10.  According to Coach D'Abla, "We both needed the win, and so both teams put everything on the line." 

The evening concluded with a ceremony to honor the graduating seniors.

The Falcons look forward to the playoffs on Monday.