Vikings Split Home Doubleheader with Mohawk Valley

CONTACT: Julia Quinlan, j.quinlan@hvcc.edu, (518) 629-7863 or (518) 530-7376
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Tuesday, April 28, 2026

The Hudson Valley Community College softball team earned a split in a home doubleheader against Mohawk Valley on Tuesday, highlighted by a thrilling walk-off victory in Game 1 before falling in the nightcap.

Hudson Valley opened the day with a dramatic 5-4 win, sealing the victory in the bottom of the seventh inning. With the score tied at four, Vinessa Bonafede delivered the game-winning moment, singling to bring home the decisive run and cap off the comeback effort.

The Vikings struck first in the opening inning and continued to battle throughout. Mohawk Valley responded with a two-run second inning to take the lead, but Hudson Valley chipped away, tying the game on a solo home run by Keeley Kristel in the fourth. The Vikings regained the lead in the fifth behind RBI efforts from Samantha Graham and Gracelyn Kilburn before Mohawk Valley evened the score in the seventh following a defensive miscue.

Ella Sawitzki earned the win in the circle, tossing 6.1 innings while allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits, striking out seven. Kristel added relief support to close out the victory. Offensively, Katie Stevens and Graham led the charge with two hits apiece, while Bonafede, Kilburn, and Kristel each drove in a run. Kilburn also sparked the Vikings on the basepaths with two stolen bases as the team totaled four in the game.

In Game 2, Hudson Valley jumped out early but could not hold off a big inning from Mohawk Valley, falling 8-3. The Vikings took an early lead in the first inning, highlighted by an RBI double from Kilburn. However, Mohawk Valley surged ahead in the fifth inning, plating seven runs to take control of the game.

Bonafede and Bridget Danskin each recorded two hits to lead the offense, while Sophia Currao, Bonafede, and Kilburn each tallied an RBI. The Vikings also turned a double play defensively in the contest.

Despite the loss, Kristel reached a significant milestone, recording her 100th career strikeout as a freshman.

Hudson Valley will look to build on the split as they return to action on Saturday with a road doubleheader at Genesee, scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.