A nine-run first inning paved the way for the Albertus Magnus softball team as the Falcons went on to defeat New Rochelle 17-0 in the semifinals of the Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference Invitational on Saturday afternoon. Freshman Danielle Thuerling (Wallingford, Conn.) struck out 10 as she threw her first collegiate no-hitter. Thuerling went five innings and was one walk away from a perfect game.
Danielle Figueroa (Bridgeport, Conn.), Shequita Baker (New Haven, Conn.) and Krista LaBissoniere (Meriden, Conn.) each registered multiple hits for the Falcons in the victory as Albertus improved to 16-23 with the win.
In the Falcons' dominating first inning, they recorded nine runs on five hits and three New Rochelle errors. That frame was highlighted by a two-run home run by freshman Aimee Mirto (Hamden, Conn.), her team-leading fifth homer of the season. Back-to-back walks with the bases loaded plated two more Falcons as they took a 6-0 lead. An error by the New Rochelle infield allowed the Falcons to score two more runs before an RBI single by Elaina Maio (West Haven, Conn.) put Albertus ahead 9-0.
New Rochelle's Nyasia Collier drew a one-out walk before she was thrown out at second attempting to steal a base to get into scoring position. Collier was the Blue Angels' lone base runner of the contest.
The Falcons added five runs in the top of the third inning to take a 14-0 lead. Figueroa recorded an RBI single to plate Maritza Rosemond (New Haven, Conn.) from third before Maio was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, allowing Baker to score. Back-to-back walks with the bases loaded once again plated two Falcons as Albertus extended its lead to 14.
In the top of the fourth, Albertus added three more runs led by a solo home run by Baker to lead off the inning. With two outs, LaBissoniere recorded a two-run single to score both Maio and Figueroa to give the Falcons the dominating 17-0 advantage.
The win for the Falcons moves them into the HVWAC Invitational Championship game set for 4:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
