HOUGHTON, NY—Last season the Houghton Highlanders softball team won three of their final four games, setting a new program record with eight victories.
 
On Monday night the Highlander women set a new record for wins in a season.  Twice.
 
The Highlanders (10-22) defeated the Hilbert Hawks (11-19) in a pair of one-run games, 2-1 and 3-2, to win their ninth and tenth games of the season.
 
Game One:
The Hawks struck early when the first batter of the game reached on an error and advanced to second base.  The next batter hit a single to centerfield, scoring the runner from second.
 
From that point on Houghton starter Kaylee Jentsch would allow only four more hits and one walk, while striking out five batters.  Only one Hilbert baserunner would reach third base over the final 6.2 innings.
 
Houghton put runners in scoring position in the first, third and fourth innings, but failed to bring in a run.  Then in the sixth inning Jenny Young, Barbara Richert and Alishia Foss strung together three straight hits to load the bases with only one out. 
 
After a strikeout, Justine Phillips hit a ground ball that should have ended the inning, but the Hilbert infielder was unable to handle the ball and Young scored the tying run.  On the very next play Bailey Shattell was hit by a pitch, allowing Richert to score the eventual winning run.
 
Richert finished the game with two hits and a walk for the Highlanders.
 
Game Two:
Hilbert again struck first after the first two batters of the game singled and the cleanup hitter rapped a two-out double into left-center.  The lead runner scored from second, but Richert got to the ball to Shattell, who fired a strike to the plate, cutting down the second runner and holding the Hawks to only one run.
 
In the bottom of the first, after two straight hits and a defensive error, Jentsch and Richert hit back-to-back fielder's choices, scoring Shattell and Young to take a 2-1 lead.
 
The Highlanders would hold that lead until the third when the Hawks hit a two-out base-hit to left, tying the score at two.
 
Houghton threatened in the bottom half of the inning, but stranded runners on second and third.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Young ripped a triple into the right-center gap, and Taylor Sile promptly followed with a sharp single through the left side, giving Houghton the lead.
 
Houghton loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth, but failed to extend their lead.
 
Sile, meanwhile, had been cruising in the pitcher's circle, not allowing a hit since the third inning.
 
In the top of the seventh Sile quickly retired the first two batters.  Down to their final out, the Hawks reached on an infield error, followed by a single to centerfield.  With the tying run in scoring position, Sile induced the game-ending foul popup to first base, earning the Highlanders their 10^th win of the season.
 
Sile finished her night with two hits at the plate and a complete-game eight-hitter in the mound.  She walked only two batters and struck out one.
 
Young and Tanya Hatton also collected two hits apiece for the Highlanders.
 
Next Time Out:
Houghton returns to the diamond tomorrow afternoon, traveling to Alfred State to take on the Pioneers in a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m.