From NYU Athletics

Freshman Courtney Friday's breakout game helped lead the New York University softball team to a 20-11 extra-inning victory over Wisconsin Lutheran College on Friday, March 16, in Kissimmee, FL. 

The Violets (5-5) dropped their second game of the day, and final contest of their Florida road trip, to #19-ranked (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) Ithaca College (6-3) by the score of 8-5.  

Batting in the cleanup spot in the opener, the Violet first basemen blasted a two-run home run in the first. She added a clutch RBI single in the eighth after Wisconsin Lutheran (5-4) had erased an eight-run deficit and forced the extra frame.     

NYU led 9-1 going into the sixth, but the Warriors managed three in the sixth and plated five in in the seventh. They threatened to win the game in the bottom of the seventh, but Scarlett Murphy came on in relief and stranded runners on second and third by striking out the final two batters of the frame.

"It wasn't pretty. But our bats really exploded in the eighth and Scarlett did a tremendous job to get us back in the dugout," said Head Coach Now-Allah James.

The Violets sent 14 hitters to the plate and scored 11 runs in the extra frame.

"Obviously, it never should have come to that," James expressed. "But it does show character that we were able to overcome losing the lead and regrouping to get the win."   

Friday wasn't the only Violet to shine at the plate. Diana King continued her torrid pre-spring by going 3-for-5 with a double, triple, three runs scored, and seven RBIs.

"She just continues to impress," James remarked.

Taylor Kenerson and Claire Stefanelli banged out four hits each. Kenerson singled twice in the eighth inning and finished with three RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base. Stefanelli recorded two doubles, scored twice, had a RBI and stolen base.

In the nitecap, the Violets scored three runs in the bottom of the first on Stefanelli's three-run home run, but Ithaca scored five times in the top of the second and never relinquished the lead.

King went the distance on the mound, but could not avoid suffering her first loss of the season.

MORE NOTES:

- The 11 runs allowed in the opener was the most ever by NYU in a winning effort. It was not a pretty game, as the Warriors committed seven errors and the Violets made five.

- Stefanelli added a single and a walk in game two. Kenerson had two hits, while King and Ashley Mainsdrove in the Violets' other two runs.

- King has gotten at least one hit in every game this season.