HOUGHTON, N.Y. – The Houghton College softball team celebrated its two seniors, Hannah Cybart and Caitlyn Cybart on a Saturday afternoon matchup against Nazareth College, April 24. The Highlanders got right to work in the first game, downing the Golden Flyers, 6-1 in the first game before dropping a 7-4 decision in the second.

Game 1: Houghton 6, Nazareth 1

In the second, an Elise Swanson double put runners in scoring position. Up at the plate, Hannah Chorey got on by a second base error, scoring Alisabeth Crandall and putting Houghton up. With one out, Houghton loaded the bases to put itself in a prime scoring opportunity. A ground out to the pitcher and a strikeout halted the Highlanders' threat.

Houghton kept the offense moving in the third when it got two on after a Thompson single and a muffed throw by short shop to first. With Swanson at the plate and runners at first and second, a single up left center scores Thompson, expanding the lead by one, 2-0.

The Golden Flyers cut it down to one in the fourth, but that did not faze the Highlanders as they answered straight back with three of their own in the bottom. Jen Page got the bats going with a single to shortstop before stealing second putting her in scoring position with just one out. With an H. Cybart single up left line and Page advancing to third, Hannah Haskell tallied her seventh RBI of the season scoring Page. Thompson showed why she is a force at the plate when she smacked it to the fence, expanding Houghton's lead by two. Haskell and Thompson continued to put pressure on Nazareth with a double steal as Caitlyn Cybart stepped up at the plate. C. Cybart grounded to third but Haskell scored to put Houghton up, 5-1.

Nothing was slowing the Highlanders down on their senior night as Thompson cranked out her second double of the afternoon in the bottom of the sixth to score Page. The Golden Flyers struggled to put anything together in the seventh, sealing Houghton's 6-1 win.

Game 1 Notes

• Houghton out-hit Nazareth, 12-5, its second best for the season
• Thompson exploded at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance with two hits, a run, and pair of RBIs
• Page also produced three hits for the Highlanders to go along with her two runs
• Houghton had a season-high three stolen bases as Page, Haskell, and Thompson all swiped one from the Golden Flyers
• On the mound, Kayla Loomis earned the starting nod going all seven innings. Loomis advances to 4-14 with the win as she gave up just one run while striking out three

Game 2: Houghton 4, Nazareth 7

Nazareth got right to work, putting itself on the board in the first inning before tacking on two more in the third and the fourth for a five-run lead.
Houghton had the chance to get on the board in the fifth after Hannah Chorey got on with a single to right center. Chorey advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt by Lydia Peterson but would ultimately be stranded there after a foul fly out to right.

The Golden Flyers added two in the sixth before the Highlanders started connecting in the bottom of the frame. Following an H. Cybart single and a walk, Thompson ripped one to left field, putting Houghton on the board with no outs. C. Cybart grounded out to second but scored Haskell and advancing Thompson to third. Thompson came across after a wild pitch to get Houghton within four, 7-3. The Highlanders stalled from there with a pair of strikeouts.

Houghton had a seventh inning rally when Page doubled to left field and came back around with a H. Cybart line drive down the left line. That would be as far as the Highlanders could get, ultimately falling 7-4.
 
Game 2 Notes

• The Highlanders were out-hit by the Golden Flyers, 11-8, while striking out eight times
• Page and Cybart both had multi-hit performances while four other Highlanders had a hit
• Loomis, Anna Frerichs, and Crandall all split time in the circle with Loomis getting sacked with the loss. All three pitchers tossed a pair of strikeouts, while Frerichs walked five

The Highlanders have a few days of rest before the welcome Alfred College in a Tuesday night conference bout April, 27. First pitch is slated for 5 pm.