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Lady Bears Advance to Play-Offs
The injury bug bit the NYIT lady bears, but the softball team managed to compile its best record ever in the NYCAC (New York Collegiate Athletic Conference).
Despite injuries to senior Jen Lerch (sprained ankle), sophomore Kelley Schultz (broken nose) and freshman pitcher Nicole Swistun (pulled hamstring), the Lady Bears compiled an overall record of 21-25-2 and a stellar conference record of 15-7. Those tallies were impressive, considering the team had only one win during its first 12 games.
The Lady Bears clinched a playoff spot in the NYCAC postseason softball tournament and matched up against the sixth-seeded Queens College Lady Knights. Queens had defeated the Lady Bears twice during the season, but NYIT opened the tournament by squeaking out a 4-3 victory. Swistun, from East Islip, N.Y., pitched a six-hitter and earned her first playoff victory to go along with a 5-0 conference record with five shutouts.
Adelphi University was the Lady Bears' next opponent. Although Adelphi swept the season series, NYIT fought until the end, losing 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning. Senior pitcher Marianna Higens, who took the loss, nevertheless made ALL NYCAC second team for the second time in her career.
After the setback against Adelphi, NYIT moved into the loser's bracket and faced Dowling College, last year's NYCAC Champion. Dowling scored two runs in the first inning and never looked back. The Bears season would come to a close in this 5-1 loss.
"Overall we had a great season after the slow start," says coach Joseph Hennie. "We played a very tough schedule and did it with 11 players. They showed their toughness day in and day out and should be very proud of themselves. I also have to commend my assistants, Kari Barry and Courtney Nilan. They truly made this a pleasurable season, even though we didn't get as many wins as we would have liked."
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