Longest Softball Championship Game in NE10 History.
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - Ashley Lombardi notched a walk-off home run in the eleventh inning to help the Adelphi softball team to its first Northeast-10 Conference title since 2018.
It was the longest championship game in NE10 history and a defensive battle down to the last pitch. Adelphi (41-11) had four hits to Saint Anselm's (28-15) three through seven innings and both teams had runners in scoring position, but defense pulled through on both ends to send the game into extra innings.
The first seven innings of play featured seven hits, including two in the bottom of the seventh that led to the bases loaded for the Panthers.
The Panthers and Hawks had a combined 20 runners left on base before Lombardi went yard to end the game, she had only hit two home runs to date - both of which came during her freshman season in 2019.
Bottom of the eleventh inning, Sophia Cicchetti hit a lead-off single to the shortstop and advanced to second on a throwing error. Amanda Owens got a sac bunt down to move Cicchetti and bring Lombardi to the plate. With two balls and one strike on her, Lombardi went yard.
Adelphi only had two players with more than one hit over the eleven innings. Alexa Sacripante and Ziara Shreter had two and three hits apiece, and Shreter led all batters with her 3-for-5 performance.
Claire Fon pitched 10.1 innings and tossed 150 pitches. She struck out four batters and gave up six hits and four walks. Fon was replaced by Lindsey Hibbs with one out and a runner on second in the top of the eleventh. Hibbs retired the next two batters in order and claimed the win to advance to 20-6.
Fon, Hibbs and Lombardi were named to the All-Championship team. Fon was selected as the game's Most Outstanding Player.
The NCAA selection show will take place on Monday, May 9 at 10 a.m., and can be watched on ncaa.com.
-Recap provided by Adelphi athletic communications-
ALL-CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
Claire Fon, Adelphi *
Lindsey Hibbs, Adelphi
Ashley Lombardi, Adelphi
Haile Hicks, Saint Anselm
Kate Irwin, Saint Anselm
Anna Tassone, Assumption
Leine McKechnie, SNHU
*Most Outstanding Player
ELITE 24 AWARD
Shannon Gifford, SNHU
2022 NE10 Softball Championship
Tuesday, May 3rd
First Round Games
Game 1: #6 Assumption 3, #7 Bentley 2
Game 2: #8 Southern Connecticut 5, #5 Pace 2
Thursday, May 5th, Friday, May 6th & Saturday, May 7th
Championship Weekend (to be hosted by Adelphi)
Thursday, May 5th
Game 3: #6 Assumption 1, #3 Franklin Pierce 0
Game 4: #4 Southern New Hampshire 1, #8 Southern Connecticut 0
Friday, May 6th
Game 5: #1 Adelphi 2, #4 Southern New Hampshire 0
Game 6: #2 Saint Anselm 5, #6 Assumption 4
Saturday, May 7th
Game 7: #1 Adelphi 2, #2 Saint Anselm 0 (F/11)
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
