ONEONTA, N.Y. - The Hartwick softball team opened its 2026 campaign with a doubleheader split against the Delhi Broncos, battling through two tight contests on Tuesday afternoon at Cooperstown All-Star Village.
THE BASICS (Game One)
Final Score: Hartwick 12 Delhi 13
Location: Oneonta, N.Y. | Cooperstown All-Star Village
Records: Hartwick (0-1, 0-0 Empire 8) • Delhi (1-7, 0-0 NAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hawks opened their season against the familiar SUNY Delhi Broncos, who entered the contest fresh off a seven-game stretch in Myrtle Beach.
It was a quiet first inning as Alanna Villavicencio (Deer Park, NY) made her collegiate debut in the circle, stranding two runners and recording her first career strikeout.
Hartwick's offense erupted in the second inning. Autumn Millington (Westmoreland, NY) sparked the rally with a leadoff single before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt and wild pitch. Ashlee Stevens (Knox, NY) worked a walk to load the bases before Alicea Seitzinger (Bridgeton, NJ) delivered an RBI single for her first collegiate hit.
Sierra Phillips followed with a walk to force in another run before Casey O'Connor (Albany, NY) broke the inning open with a two-run single. Madi Hoerman (Portage, MI) later reached on a fielder's choice to plate another run, and Millington capped the inning with her second hit of the frame, driving in Hoerman to give the Hawks a commanding early lead.
Delhi responded in the third inning, scoring four runs on five hits before Villavicencio escaped a bases-loaded jam to preserve the lead.
The Hawks struck again in the fifth. Shannon Mentz (Binghamton, NY) launched her first collegiate home run over the left-center wall to begin the inning. Stevens later walked and scored on another Seitzinger single, while Seitzinger came around to score on O'Connor's third RBI of the day.
Delhi mounted a comeback in the bottom half of the inning, plating five runs on five hits to pull within one.
After the Broncos tied the game at 10 in the sixth, Hartwick responded in the seventh. O'Connor worked a two-out walk before Hoerman doubled into the left-center gap. Millington delivered again, ripping a two-run single through the left side to give the Hawks a late 12-10 advantage.
Delhi answered once more in the bottom of the inning, beginning with a solo home run. The Broncos tied the game with a single down the left field line before a walk-off single to center field lifted Delhi to a 13-12 victory in Game One.
THE BASICS (Game Two)
Final Score: Hartwick 6 Delhi 4
Location: Oneonta, N.Y. | Cooperstown All-Star Village
Records: Hartwick(1-1, 0-0 Empire 8) • Delhi (1-8, 0-0 NAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Hartwick looked to even the series in Game Two and threatened early. Emily Holladay (Hancocks Bridge, NJ) reached base and swiped second before advancing to third on a wild pitch, though she was ultimately stranded.
Anna Klein (Souderton, PA) got the start in the circle and retired the Broncos in order to open the game. Seitzinger and Stevens recorded early hits for the Hawks, but Hartwick was unable to bring a run home in the opening frames.
The Hawks broke through in the third inning. O'Connor doubled to center field before Hoerman laid down a bunt single to put runners on the corners. Millington reached on an error, allowing O'Connor to score the game's first run.
Hartwick continued to apply pressure as Millington and Hoerman executed a double steal. Mentz drew a walk to load the bases before Seitzinger reached on a fielder's choice, bringing home another run. Nadia Pascucci (Troy, NY) followed with a sacrifice fly, and Mentz later scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead.
Delhi chipped away at the deficit, scoring once in the third before rallying again in the fifth. A leadoff triple sparked the inning, followed by a bunt single and an RBI double to bring the Broncos within one. A single through the right side later tied the game at 4-4.
After a quiet sixth inning, Hartwick delivered the decisive rally in the seventh. Mentz opened the inning with a single, and despite a caught stealing, Seitzinger and Pascucci followed with back-to-back hits to put runners in scoring position.
Shelby Swartz (Candor, NY) produced a key groundout to bring home Seitzinger for the go-ahead run. Mihaly Blake (Troy, NY) then recorded her first collegiate hit, driving a single through the left side to add an insurance run.
Klein closed the door in the bottom half, forcing three groundouts to seal the 6-4 victory and secure a split in the season-opening doubleheader.
UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS
Hartwick will travel to Florida for The Spring Games in Winter Haven, competing in eight contests from March 16–20.
About Hartwick College:
Hartwick, often referred to as The Life Balance College, is a private liberal arts and sciences institution in Oneonta, N.Y. Through its distinctive FlightPath approach, Hartwick blends academic excellence, career preparation and an active campus life to help students achieve a balanced and fulfilling college experience. With transparent tuition and a focus on health and wellness, Hartwick prepares students for lifelong success—both professionally and personally.
