Generals impress with twin wins at Orange County

Middletown, NY – The Herkimer softball team made the long trip to SUNY Orange for a Sunday afternoon doubleheader. The Generals kept up their winning ways, winning both games with big scores: 18-2 and 12-4.

It was almost a pleasant day for softball in the eastern Southern Tier. The grass was a beautiful green, and the sky was blue at times, but the temps were in the mid-50s and a strong wind blew out toward left-center field.

Game One

The Generals opened the skirmish with a barrage of hits. They stroked six singles and scored four runs in the top of the first inning. Alexa DiSpirito was Herkimer's starting pitcher. The first Orange batter hit one deep to left field, but General Courtney Gumprecht was there to haul it in. DiSpirito faced only four batters in the inning.

Photo: Courtney Gumprecht makes the catch in deep left

Herkimer went scoreless in the second, while SUNY Orange drove in two runs. Then the visitors' offense got into gear.

Buckley led off the third with a homer over the left field fence. It was her first collegiate home run. Alyssa Balfe and Kathryn Dolly doubled, Rebekah Kitchen tripled, and the Generals had full control of the game.

Herkimer added six more runs in the fourth. The big blow was Gumprecht's first collegiate round-tripper.

Five more Herkimer runs crossed the plate in the fifth. Stephanie Siriano and Kitchen doubled.

SUNY Orange was held scoreless in the fifth, and the run rule ended the game at that point.

Photo: First baseman Kat Dolly making a nice catch by the dugout fence

Herkimer 403 65. 18-22-2
Orange 020 00. 2-6-3
WP- DiSpirito (5-0) LP- Duffy
2B-Herk- Siriano, Balfe
3B-Herk- Kitchen
HR-Herk- Buckley, Gumprecht
Herkimer (15-1, 12-0, 4-0)

Game Two

The second game saw more of the same from the strong Herkimer squad. Jessica Patterelli took the ball into the circle. Patterelli was also the leadoff batter. She and her teammates scored four runs in the top of the first. Patterelli then set down the Orange batters in order in the home half of the inning.

Herkimer did not score in the next two innings, but Patterelli held the home team in check. She struck out six batters over the first three frames.

The Generals put the game out of reach with five runs in the fourth. Samantha Smaldone doubled, drilling a shot to the left field fence.

Game Two went six innings. Buckley powered her second homer of the day, with this one landing way beyond the fence.

Photo: Briar Roseboom scoring what would become the game-ending run

When shortstop Tina Karaqi threw out the final Orange batter at first base, the game ended with the run-rule score of 12-4.

Several Generals had big days. Steph Siriano went six-for-eight at the plate and played steady center field. Sammy Smaldone had a four-hit day.

Herkimer is back in action on Tuesday when they will host SUNY Jefferson. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

Nick Scribe, website writer

Herkimer 400 503. 12-16-0

Orange 001 030. 4-7-3
WP- Patterelli (4-0), LP- Butenhoff
2B- Herk- Smaldone, Karaqi; Orange- Pearson, Gomez
3B- Orange- Lombarzo
HR- Herk- Buckley
Herkimer (16-1, 12-0, 4-0)