Softball | 5/1/2009 5:08:15 PM

Click here for game stats

ITHACA, NY – Lisa Fronczak (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) scored the winning run with two outs in the top of the 16th inning, while Carlissa Cole (Alden, NY/Alden) (Alden, NY/Alden) threw 16 scoreless innings to lift the No. 4 RIT softball team (19-16) to a dramatic, 1-0 win over top-seed Ithaca (24-15) in opening round action of the Empire 8 Tournament on Friday afternoon.  The 16-inning contest is the longest game in program history.

RIT will play St. John Fisher in the winners bracket either later today or Saturday morning. 

Fronczak singled with one out in the inning and advanced to third on a pair of passed balls. With two outs, Jessica French (Springwater, NY/Wayland-Cohocton Central) (Springwater, NY/Wayland-Cohocton) hit a ground ball that was mishandled by the second baseman, allowing Fronczak to score the lone run of the contest.

Cole was tremendous for RIT, throwing all 16 innings, allowing just six hits and one walk, while striking out two batters.  She allowed just one hit after the fifth inning.  She retired 29-of-30 batters after allowing a lead-off single in the bottom of the fifth inning until allowing a hit in the 14th inning.  The one batter she did not retire during that stretch reached on an error.  Cole induced 29 groundouts.

The Tigers out-hit Ithaca 12-6.

Fronczak was 3-for-7 to lead RIT offensively.  Emily McPherson (Pompey, NY/Pompey) (Pompey, NY/Fabius-Pompey) was 2-for-6, while Michelle Tabisz (Silver Spring, MD/Paint Branch) (Silver Spring, MD/Paint Branch) also recorded two hits.

RIT had their chances in the extra innings.  Cole was thrown out at the plate trying to tag up on a fly ball hit by Tabisz to right field to end the 14th inning.

The Tigers had a golden opportunity to go ahead in the top of the 10th inning, when French and Tabisz both singled to lead off the frame.  Jenna Mausolf (Hudson, NY/Hudson) (Hudson, NY/Hudson) sacrificed, giving RIT runners at second and third with one out.  Ithaca pitcher Alyssa Brook entered the game and struck out the next two Tiger hitters to end the threat.

Both teams threatened in the first inning, getting a runner to third base with two outs, but were unable to push a run across.

Brook took the loss for Ithaca, allowing an unearned run on four hits in seven innings.  She struck out seven.  Gaby Flores pitched the first nine innings, allowing eight hits.

RIT had played a 13-inning game against SUNY Geneseo on April 27, 1983, losing 2-1.  The Tigers also played a 12-inning contest against Rochester on April 21, 2005.

No. 2 St. John Fisher defeated No. 3 Alfred, 3-2 in 11 innings in the first Empire 8 Tournament contest this morning.