BELLEROSE, NY --- (www.YORKATHLETICS.com) York College softball took home field Friday for a Senior Day matchup against CUNYAC foe, Hunter College, falling 14-0 and 26-1 against the Hawks from Padavan-Preller Fields.  
 
Prior to first pitch, Madison Plaza (2023–25) was honored for her dedication to York Athletics during the annual Senior Day Ceremony. Alicia Gumbs, previously recognized in 2024, rejoined the team for her season debut against Hunter and was celebrated alongside Plaza.

Game 1: Hunter 14, York 0 (5 Inn.)

• Hunter jumped ahead with a seven-run opening frame. After issuing a walk followed by a single, Cardinal starter Ayana Saavedra (L, 3–11; 5 IP, 20 H, 14 ER, 3 BB) surrendered an RBI single to Paige Witalec, who broke the scoring ice by driving in Jessica Fowler for what proved to be the game-winning run. Back-to-back RBI doubles made it a 3-0 game, and Grace Basil (2-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI / W, 7-11: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 8 SO) then helped her cause with a two-run single.
• York bounced back with a scoreless second inning, highlighted by Jeana Clemons' laser throw that cut down Sonia Rosales Rosenthal at home plate, preventing an inside-the-park home run.
• Hunter put the game away with five runs on five hits in the third frame, powered by a two-run homer from Fowler that stretched the lead to 10.
• The Hawks used RBI singles to take on runs in the fourth and fifth innings to settle the scoreline.  
• Basil clinched the victory for Hunter by retiring all 12 batters faced to spin a perfect game.

Game 2: Hunter 26, York 1 (5 Inn.)

• Witalec (4-for-6, 4 R, 4 RBI) delivered the opening runs for the Hawks with a two-run double in the first frame off York hurler Saavedra (L, 3-12; 5 IP, 24 H, 15 ER, 4 BB, SO). Rosales Rosenthal tacked on a third run with a sacrifice fly. 
• Hunter tacked on six runs on four hits, two walks, three steals, and three errors in the top of the second. RBI singles from Fowler (4-for-6, 4 R, 3 RBI) and Olivia Palumbo (4-for-6, 3 R, 2 RBI) made it 5-0 before extra-base knocks by Witalec and Nicole Bowe (4-for-5, 4 R, 2 RBI) pushed the margin to seven. The Hawks added two more runs on ground balls to close out their six-run stanza. 
• York got to starter Isabella Thumhart (W, 5-9; 5 IP, 4 H, ER, 3 BB, 5 SO) in the bottom of the second. Clemons (1-for-2, R, 2 SB) led off with a single, advanced to second on a ground out, and stole third base. Following a walk by
• Gumbs (2 SB), the pair executed a double-steal, with Clemons just sliding before Palumbo's tag. Gumbs managed to steal third with two out before a Tyla Hooks ground out kept the score at 9-1.
• Singles by Thumhart and Elizabeth Thompson pushed the score to 12-1 in the third inning.
• Plaza and Samantha Panameno recorded singles in the bottom of the third, but were subsequently caught stealing to end any scoring threat. 
• On the strength of five hits, two walks, and two errors, Hunter put the game out of sight in the fourth frame as seven more runs crossed the plate.
• Palumbo's leadoff round-tripper in the fifth stanza keyed a seven-run scoring spree to close out a 26-1 scoreline.

Up Next
The Cardinals (3-20, 0-8 CUNYAC) put a lid on the 2025 season next Friday (May 2) with a CUNYAC bout against the Lehman College Lightning (8-19, 0-7 CUNYAC) starting at 3 p.m. from South Field in the Bronx.

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