BELLEROSE, NY --- (www.YORKATHLETICS.com) Behind a strong start that featured a shutout through four innings, York College softball earned its first win of the season Friday, defeating the visiting Yeshiva University Maccabees (0-17) 18-8 at Padavan-Preller Fields. The Cardinals followed with a 31-22 victory in game 2 to seal the non-conference sweep.

Game 1: York 18, Yeshiva 8 (5 Inn.)

• After allowing three base runners to open the game, Cardinal hurler Melina Abreu (W, 1-4: 5 IP, 8 H, 8 ER, 7 BB, 8 SO) settled in quickly, striking out three straight to escape the jam and keep Yeshiva off the board in the first.
• York capitalized in the bottom half, as Samantha Panameno (2-for-2, 4 R, 2 BB, 2 SB) led off with an infield single and came around to score on a pair of throwing errors. Three batters later, Abreu (1-for-2, 3 R, 2 BB, 6 SB) helped her own cause with a single, then stole second and third before scoring on a wild pitch to make it 2-0.on Yeshiva pitcher Elisheva Trapedo (L, 0-8: 2 IP, 13 ER, 8 H, 8 BB, SO).
• Abreu worked around traffic again in the second, allowing two singles and a walk but recording a strikeout to strand all three runners to keep her shutout intact. 
• Two walks, two stolen bases, and a wild pitch set the table for Madison Plaza (1-for-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB), who delivered a two-run single and later came around to score on a throwing error. Two batters later, Madison Keir (1-for-2, 2 R, SB) singled home Panameno, and Jaylene Riley (4-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, 3B) capped the inning with an RBI triple to extend the lead to eight.
• York erupted for seven runs in the third stanza, with wild pitches scoring five and a pair of errors added two more to take a commanding 15-0 advantage.
• Abreu stayed in control in the fourth, striking out two more batters to work through another scoreless frame.
• In the bottom of the inning, Panameno reached on a leadoff walk, stole second, advanced to third, and scored on a throwing error. Later in the inning, Riley drove a double down the left field line to bring home Keir and Jaymie Mateo (0-for-2, 2 R, 2 BB, SB), extending the lead to 18-0.
• Yeshiva rallied in the fifth, using a combination of hits and York miscues to score eight runs, highlighted by back-to-back doubles and a two-run single. Despite the surge, Abreu regrouped to record the final outs and secure York's first win of the season.
• Diving deeper into the box score, the Cardinals had a narrow advantage in hits (10-8) and walks (12-7), made three errors as opposed to eight for the Maccabees, and utilized their speed to the tune of 18 stolen bases. 

Game 2: York 31, Yeshiva 21 (5 Inn.)

• The Maccabees loaded the bases in the first via a single and two walks off starter Faith Howes (W, 1-2; 3 IP, 3 H, 11 ER, 15 BB, 3 SO), before a fielder's choice and a line out to first base played the first two runs.
• York answered with a two-out rally that scored Mateo (2-for-2, 2 BB, 2 R, 2 RBI) on a wild pitch, followed by Abreu (2-for-2, 2 BB, 5 R, 2 RBI) stealing home to level the score. 
• Despite walking four and allowing one run, Howes limited the damage by inducing a fielder's choice and striking out Aliza Feldman with runners on the corners.
• A flurry of walks (5), stolen bases (16), hits (3), and errors (3) sparked a 10-run frame to give the Cardinals a 12-3 edge. The squad brought 13 runners to the plate, and four players racked up at least two steals, led by five from Panameno and three by Keir (2-for-2, 3 R, 2 RBI)
• Yeshiva responded with 11 runs in the top of the third to go up 14-12. Losing control, relief pitcher Alyssa De La Rosa allowed nine free passes, three hits, and plunked two batters during the frame.
• In the home half, Abreu generated the first run by herself. After a single to left, she stole second, third, and home to get York on the board. The Cardinals then leveled the score at 14 following an RBI bunt single from Keir. 
• The Maccabees retook the lead in the fourth stanza, generating seven runs off two hits, six walks, and three hit batters. Consistently having the bases juiced, Yeshiva drew four bases-loaded walks and recorded a pair of RBI hits by pitches.
• Taking control, York responded with 17 runs in the bottom of the inning, taking a 31-21 advantage. This was the most runs scored by the team in any inning this campaign. Running wild once more, the Cardinals executed 16 stolen bases, drew six walks, tallied six hits, and were hit four times. Plaza led the pack with four steals, and on four occasions, a player stole home. At the plate, triples from Howes (2-for-3, 2 BB, 3 R, RBI) and De La Rosa (1-for-2, 3 BB, 3 R, RBI) were the squad's only extra-base knocks for the afternoon.
• After Howes loaded the bases at the top of the fifth, Abreu (IP, H, SO) came in to seal the deal, generating two groundouts and a strikeout to clinch the 31-22 result.
• Adding onto the season-best 31 runs, the squad also accumulated a season-best 41 stolen bases. Abreu (8), Panameno (6), and Plaza (5) led the way. 

Up Next
The Cardinals (2-11, 0-4 CUNYAC) hit the road Tuesday (Apr. 21) for a CUNYAC doubleheader against the Brooklyn College Bulldogs (9-17, 2-2 CUNYAC) starting at 4 p.m. from Brooklyn College Field.

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