softball, twins, Rachel Nielsen, pitcher
Twins Take Two from Vikings

The Twins softball team took on the Hudson Valley Community College Vikings in conference action on Thursday.  The games ended up being played at Ichabod Crane High School due to the field conditions at Hudson Valley. 

Freshman Rachel Nielsen got the start in game one for the Twins.  This is her 14th start of the season for the Twins.  After a clean first inning, the Twins scored the first runs of the game with two runs in the top of the second inning. Another four runs in the third for the Twins put them up 6 – 0 heading into the fourth.  Nielsen allowed just two hits in five innings pitched.  The Twins put up 15 runs to defeat the Vikings 15 – 0 in game one of the day.  All but one of the Twins batters recorded a hit in this one.  Freshman Sydney Spohler went two for three and drove in three runs on a bases clearing triple.  Sophomore Tori Popp went three for three and batted in two runs.  Freshman Kaylee Hoffman went three for five and drove in two runs on a triple.  Sophomore Lauren Bowes went one for two and drove in two runs on a triple. 

Nielsen would make her 15th start of the season in game two of the day against the Vikings.  The Twins put up four runs in the first inning to give themselves the lead, 4 – 0.  The Vikings got their first runs of the day in the top of the third inning, but the Twins struck right back with three runs of their own.  The Twins lead after three 7 – 2.  The Twins would add four more runs in the fourth and fifth inning to take the Vikings by a final score of 11 – 3.  Freshman Rachel Nielsen pitched all six innings for the Twins.  She finished allowing three runs on five hits while striking out five.  Nielsen also helped herself at the plate with two runs batted in on two hits.  Freshman Jane Pilkington went two for four and drove in three runs.  Freshman Jaclyn Gehring drove in two runs on a double for her only hit of the game.  The Twins hit five triples on the day against the Vikings. This puts them ranked fourth in the region in triples with 11 on the season. 

The Twins will be back in action again when they battle SUNY Adirondack at home May 1st.  The first game of the double-header will begin at 3 pm.