Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
HAMBURG, N.Y. - The Hilbert College softball team snapped an eight game AMCC losing streak with one win over Pitt-Greensburg this afternoon. The Hawks split the doubleheader, winning the first game 3-2 and then dropping the second 10-6. Kateland Ball's five for six while at bat, including a double, triple, and a homerun in the second game, led the Hawks offensively.
 
An error by the Hawks and smart base-running by Greensburg gave the Bobcats a 1-0 lead. Hilbert's first at bat was an improvement from yesterday's offensive performance as Natalie Whitman's double brought Kateland Ball across home plate. The Hawks ended the inning with the bases loaded.
 
The top of the second inning saw three straight strikeouts for Victoria Dzaak. Greensburg's Meghan Uher struck out three of Hilbert's next five batters, as well, to keep the game knotted 1-1.  Dzaak continued her strong pitching in the third with two more strikeouts and a grounder down the first baseline gave the Hawks a three and out inning.
 
Eliza Stringham gave the Hawks a 2-1 lead as she drilled the ball over the centerfield fence for a solo homerun. Greensburg hung around and retaliated in the top of the sixth with a solo home run of their own by Caitlin Tobin. 
 
Erin Smith's grounder to centerfield put her on base and Kateland Ball's double brought Smith home to give the Hawks a 3-2 lead. In the top of the seventh, the Bobcats had runners on second and third. Alexandra Kleer hit a deep ball to left field but Smith was able to make the catch and solidify the win.
 
In the second game, the Hawks got out to a shaky first inning, giving up three runs on two errors. Despite being down 3-0, Jaelyn Gotham was able to hold the Bobcats scoreless in the second inning with one strikeout and two fly outs.
 
Hilbert's bats started singing in the bottom of the second and with two runners on  Ball hit another double to bring home Smith and Hall. Ball turned it into a three run play, capitalizing off two Bobcat errors to bring herself across home plate and tying the game at three.
 
Two doubles in the top of the third and a couple more in fourth gave Greensburg a 4-3 advantage. Ball continued her strong day at the plate, sending a ball beyond the right field fence for a home run and cutting the Bobcats' lead to 1.
 
Greensburg capitalized on Hawk errors and extended their lead to 6-4. They then held Hilbert to three batters in the fifth inning to maintain the lead. The Bobcats went on to have a five hit, four run top of the sixth to hold a 10-4 margin.
 
Ball continued to be a spark for the Hawks hitting a triple to right field and sent Crystal Hailey home. Ball crossed home plate on the next at bat off of Stringham's single, making it a 10-6 game going into the seventh. Neither team would score a run in the final inning and the Bobcats took the 10-6 final.
 
Both Gotham and Greensburg's Kara Barclay struck out four batters in the second game. Barclay was given the win with only one walk. Gotham took the loss.
 
The Hawks continue their home stand with a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 15th at 3pm and 5pm against Pitt Bradford.