GOWANDA, N.Y. - The Hilbert College softball team opened the week up with the first of four "home" AMCC games that will be played at Gowanda High School.

The Hawks battled Alfred State College in two competitive games this afternoon  losing the first game 8-4 but fell just the short in the come back bottom of the 7th, falling 13-12. 

THE BASICS  
           
Final Scores:  Alfred State College 8| Hilbert College 4
                       ASC 13 | Hilbert 12
Location:        Gowanda High School | Gowanda, N.Y.
Records:        Alfred State 5-19 (3-13 AMCC) | Hilbert 1-9 (1-7 AMCC)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Both Melanie Basile and Victoria Grayson launched a well-hit ball over the outfield fence to start the late-game rally in the 7th inning of the second game.
• Grayson is on a four-game hitting streak of doubles in each game.
• Basile went 6 for 9 on the day while Grayson knocked in five runs off her 3 hits and  she had her rocket on target today, throwing a pair out at second base on stolen base attempts as well as picking-off a runner on third.

HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME 1:

• The Hawks went up 2-0 out the gate, but gave up three runs to the Pioneers in the 2nd.  Hilbert chipped in  a solo run in the second and third innings to take the 4-3 lead.
• Makenna Smith walked and Basile singled up the middle giving Grayson two runners to push home off her double to center field in the first inning.
• Alfred State's clean-up hitter, Kris Lovell, poked her first home run to start a three-run scoring spurt for the Pioneers in the 2nd.
• Basile's RBI single to right field evened the score at 3-3 before pitcher Mattison Arnett put down four batters to get the Hawks back on offense. 
• With two outs in the fourth, back-to-back ASC errors gave Hilbert their final run of the game.
• Three Pioneer hits in the 5th led to two runs before Lovell whacked  her second HR ball lifting the guest to a 7-4 advantage before they added one more run in the 7th.
• Makenna Smith, Kaitlyn Barone and Emma McNamara were credited with one stolen base each.
• Mattison Arnett (0-5) took the loss though Hannah Coken came in relief and struck out one, with one earned run off three hits.

GAME 2:

• The Hawks tacked runs on the board at the bottom of the first inning, building a 5-0 lead.
• Smith took a base on balls and then scored the first run off a wild pitch. Basile singled to the pitcher and was knocked home by Grayson's double.
• After the Hawks loaded the bags, Leandrea Cruz base on balls scored Grayson, and Victoria Lakeman's single pushed McNamara home for the fifth run.
• Kris Lovell hit her third homer of the day and sliced the margin, Hilbert 5-ASC 4, in the 3rd.
• Hilbert had a 6-4 hold until the top of the 5th when Lakeman sprinted home in the bottom half.
• ASC rallied with 5 runs total in the 5th, held the Hawks in check in the bottom half, then added four more runs in the 6th.
• Hilbert got ASC's first batter out in the 5th, then witnessed short hits turn into movement around the bags and a 5-run inning develop. Grayson picked off the runner at third and pitcher Rebecca Marmorato forced a ground out for the third out.
• Almost an identical inning in the 6th, five Alfred hits turned into four more runs - setting a 13-6 lead.
• Sydnea Schiedel pulled through with a 2 RBI double to center field plating Barone and McNamara in the 6th and then the 7th inning started with solid connections which turned into a late-game 4-run rally.
• Basile homered to left field, celebrated in the dug out then watched as Grayson connected over center field.  Those hits gave the Hawks new life.
• Bailey Budziszewski singled to center field, McNamara single to left center and pinch runner Abigail Dent and McNamara made it back home off Hannah Coken's single back out to centerfield.
• Gabrielle  Jansen served as pinch runner for Coken and moved to third off a wild pitch and then another Schiedel single to right field.
• Two outs, one tagged at home and the other strike out, ended the most exciting game seen by Hilbert fans this year.
• Basile went 4 for 5 with one stolen base, McNamara went 2 for 3 and scored three runs, and Schiedel went 2 for 2, both late-game clutch hits.
• Marmorato closed the game giving up five hits, four runs scored while Budziszewski (1-4) went 4.1 innings with one strike out, 10 hits and four earned runs.

UP NEXT 

The Hawks return to Gowanda High School to host cross-town rival Medaille College at 3pm.