Rye Neck’s softball team won for the sixth time in its past seven games Monday, taking an eight-run lead in the fourth inning and holding on for a 9-8 win on Rye High School’s new softball field.
Panthers senior Shelby Preisser continued her season-long dominance, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run and four RBIs. On the mound, she piled up eight strikeouts. Her teammates, freshman Charlotte Picone and junior Gianna Stracuzzi, each drove in two runs, and senior Gabby Fasolino had a triple, an RBI, and scored three runs.
Rye Neck (10-4) scored twice in the first and second innings before Rye cut the lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the second. Five runs in the fourth gave the Panthers a 9-1 lead. The Garnets scored three in the fifth and sixth, and another in the bottom of the seventh, but their rally fell one run short.
Junior Ava Rollano led Rye’s offense, hitting a double and a triple with two RBIs. Sophomore Jill DeSanto, senior Ava Cross, and Clara Meszkat also drove in runs. Sophomore pitcher Penelope Gilmore took the loss.
Rye Neck hosts Senior Day at 3:45 p.m. today against Blind Brook, the final home game for Preisser, a Haverford College commit, Fasolino, and Daniella Lori. Earlier this month, Preisser threw a no-hitter against Blind Brook and went 4-for-4, including her 100th career hit for the Panthers.
Rye (4-10-1) will wrap up the regular season this week with three more home games, starting with Pelham at 4:30 p.m. today. The Garnets host Ursuline on Thursday and Scarsdale on Friday before playing in the Westlake Tournament championship on Sunday.
