OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. – The Yeshiva University softball team fell short in two hard-fought Skyline games to the College at Old Westbury, by scores of 14-10 and 12-8, at the Jackie Robinson Athletic Complex on Friday afternoon. The Panthers advance to 7-6 overall, and 2-4 in the Skyline, while the Maccabees drop to 0-12 for the season and 0-6 in conference contests.

Yeshiva held the lead in both games but could not hang on in either contest.

After the Panthers scored a run in each of the first two innings to jump out in front, an RBI single by senior catcher Sarah Hiller capped off a two-run third for the Maccabees that tied the game at a pair of runs apiece. Old Westbury answered with four runs in the bottom frame, as sophomore third baseman Samantha Arcese produced a two-run single, while senior pitcher Nicole Baron singled down the right field line for an RBI, to give the home team a 6-2 advantage.

Yeshiva's lineup exploded for a five-run fourth inning to take a 7-6 lead. During the productive inning, Hiller and sophomore first baseman Noa Applebaum each drew a walk with the bases loaded. The big blow came off the bat of sophomore shortstop Miriam Kazlow, as she singled to right to score Hiller and sophomore second baseman Chana Boltax that tied the game. Applebaum's bases loaded walk that scored Kazlow allowed YU to take its first lead of the afternoon.

Once again, the Panthers responded in the next half inning, scoring eight runs to take a commanding 14-7 hold.

Yeshiva would not go down without a fight. Down 14-8 in the top of the seventh, the Maccabees loaded the bases with one out. Hiller and Kazlow each earned an RBI walk to narrow YU's deficit to four runs. With the tying run at the plate, and now two outs, sophomore third baseman Chana Weinberg slapped the ball to third. Arcese scooped it up and stepped on the bag to get Hiller out, clinching the first victory of the afternoon for the home team.

For the game, senior left fielder Basya Goldstein went 3-for-4 with four runs scored, a walk, and a stolen base. Boltax produced a single, scored twice, drew two walks, and stole a base of her own. Kazlow produced two singles, drove in three runs, and earned a base on balls, while senior right fielder Leah Feder had a hit and a walk. Weinberg reached base twice, including a one-base hit. Senior center fielder Sarah Elspas and sophomore designated player Malky Perlberger each scored a run, with the former hitting a single and the latter drawing a walk. In the circle, senior pitcher Samantha Cohen tossed six innings to take the loss.

For Old Westbury, senior right fielder Jessica Schwartz went 3-for-4 with a single, double, and triple, while scoring two runs. Arcese went 2-for-4 at the plate, including three RBI and two runs scored. She started the game in the circle and picked up the win, going five innings and striking out five YU batters. Baron earned her first save of the season as she came in and retired the only two hitters she faced.

Yeshiva loaded the bases in the second inning of game two, with nobody out. Goldstein singled through the left side to score Applebaum and give the Maccabees an early 1-0 lead. Junior pitcher Amanda Neenan was able to escape further damage by retiring the next three Yeshiva batters to leave the bases loaded.

The Panthers countered with four runs in the next half-inning, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of freshman catcher Johanna Metz, to put YU in a 4-1 hole.

Yeshiva had the bases loaded, two outs and a pair of runs already in, during the top of the third inning. Once again, Hiller came through with a clutch single to right field that scored Perlberger and Elspas to propel Yeshiva to a 5-4 lead.

After the Panthers tied it up in the bottom frame, Yeshiva and Old Westbury were deadlocked at five runs heading into the top of the fifth. Kazlow came up with the bases loaded and two outs. She singled to right to score Boltax, and then a fielding error by the right fielder allowed Perlberger and Elspas to cross home plate and give Yeshiva an 8-5 advantage.

YU's lead would not last as Old Westbury drew back-to-back walks with the bases loaded to pull to within one, during the next half-inning. Arcese came up, with the bases loaded and two outs, down by one. She pulled through with a double to left center to clear the bases and give the Panthers the lead again, 10-8. Old Westbury added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth and went on to win the game, 12-8, to earn the sweep.

For the Panthers, Neenan scored three runs and drew just as many walks. Metz and Arcese each picked up four RBI, while Metz drew four bases on balls and senior left fielder Jennifer Lobody crossed home plate three times. Baron earned the victory in the circle, giving up just one run and striking out five, in four innings of relief.

For the Maccabees, Goldstein went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI, while Boltax singled and scored a run. Kazlow added a walk, while Feder also earned a base on balls. Applebaum singled, drew a walk, and scored two runs, while Elspas crossed home plate twice. Perlberger earned a run batted in, scored twice, and produced two singles. Weinberg scored a run and drew a walk. Boltax pitched six innings and suffered the hard-fought loss.

Yeshiva will travel to Long Island on Sunday, to take on Farmingdale State College, in a Skyline Conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.