CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has selected Oriana Castello (Pearl River, N.Y.) from Buffalo St. as the SUNYAC Softball Athlete of the Week and New Paltz's Katie Quagliana (East Amherst, N.Y.) as the Pitcher of the Week.
Castello, a freshman, posted a .476 batting average (10 of 21), including three doubles and a triple, which helped the Bengals go 5-1 for the week with three conference wins. She also had 11 RBIs and scored four runs. The Pearl River, N.Y. native extended her hitting streak to 18 games, and collected at least two hits in four of the six games this week. Castello and the Bengals travel to Nazareth this Tuesday (4/16) set to start at 3 p.m.
Quagliana pitched back-to-back complete game shutouts this week in victories over Purchase College and Oneonta, totaling eight complete games and four complete-game shutouts on the year. She only needed to pitch four innings in her first outing, only giving up three hits and one walk, against Purchase as the Hawks were able to win in five innings, 8-0. Against the Red Dragons, Quagliana gave up just seven hits and was able to leave seven Oneonta base-runners stranded to help New Paltz earn a much-needed, 1-0 win. The freshman ace added three strikeouts and was able to force 12 ground outs. New Paltz hosts the Potsdam Bears this Friday (4/19).