CLERMONT, F.L. - The SUNY Geneseo softball saw its unbeaten streak to begin the 2025 season come to an end on Monday afternoon during their spring break trip to Florida, as they split a doubleheader against Old Westbury and McDaniel. The Knights opened the day with a 10-1 victory over Old Westbury, then couldn't hang on for a win over McDaniel, falling 11-6.
In the opening game against Old Westbury, the Knights got on the board in the top of the first, as a single from
Molly Griffin and then an error with
Sierra VanDerwarker at the plate allowed
Ray Schumacher to come around to score. Geneseo added to its lead in the second inning, when a
Lauren Babich lead off single led to an RBI double from
Katie Kuneth. The Panthers got one run back in the fourth inning, but then the Knights piled on the runs in the fifth and sixth innings to get the 10-1 win. In the fifth inning,
Hannah Olejniczak, VanDerwarker, and
Jane Reilly all picked up RBIs to bring in three runs, then VanDerwarker highlighted a five-run sixth inning with a two RBI double.
VanDerwarker highlighted the offensive performance on the day, going 2-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs. Kuneth added a 2-3 day at the plate while
Brooke Fraas went 2-2 with two runs scored.
Mikayla Bucci threw all six innings on the mound, allowing just three hits while striking out six.
Geneseo kept the momentum going to begin their second game of the day against McDaniel, going ahead 4-0 after two innings. Fraas opened the scoring with an RBI in the first inning, then
Tara Brochu, Olejniczak, and Fraas added an RBI each in the second to extend the lead to 4-0. McDaniel brought it back to a one-run game in the top of the fourth, but a double steal from Geneseo in the bottom half scored
Bella Nadzan to bring it back to a two-run lead. The Knights were unable to hang on to the lead late in the game, and McDaniel was able to escape with the 11-6 victory.
Fraas added two RBIs to lead the offense, while
Gabriella Petroski,
Kaitlyn Magerle,
Amanda Audia, and Bucci combined to complete the game pitching.
Geneseo will enjoy a day off tomorrow, then return on Wednesday with a doubleheader against Coe College and University of Wisconsin-Stout.