Softball | 4/13/2013 6:38:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CANTON, NY - The RIT softball team (6-14, 1-3 Liberty League) won its first conference game of the season, earning a split against Liberty League opponent St. Lawrence (10-10, 3-3 Liberty League) on Saturday at Saints Softball Field, RIT won game one, 1-0 then rallied late in the nightcap before falling, 4-3.

In game one, RIT had runners on first and second in the top of the first inning with one out, but were unable to score. St. Lawrence had base runners in all but one inning but couldn't push a run across.  Meanwhile, RIT took advantage of several Saint miscues in the fourth inning to score the game's lone run. 

RIT had just one hit in the game, a two-out blooper down the left field line in the sixth inning by Brittney LaVoie (Plattsburgh, NY/Ticonderoga). The Tigers scored their lone run in the fourth inning, as Amanda Cook (Royal Palm Beach, FL/Suncoast) reached on an error, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Kelsey McManus (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon ) and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Cook then scored, as Anna Lorette (Norridgewock, ME/Skowhegan Area) reached on an error,

Sarah Collmus (Falmouth, ME/Falmouth) earned the shutout win on the mound for RIT as she gave up eight hits while walking two and striking out three for her fourth win of the season. It is also her second shutout of the 2013 season. Kyle Plimpton suffered the loss on the mound for the home team despite giving up just one hit while walking four and striking out seven. 

In game two, St. Lawrence took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on two hits.  Caroline Kieltyka led the inning off with a walk, and Cailyn Welsh followed with a bunt single.  After both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, Natasha Bell singled to left field to bring home Kieltyka.  Bell stole second base on the next play, allowing Welsh to score on the throw.

RIT got on the board in the fourth inning when Cook led off with a single through the right side, and would eventually come around to score on a single to right field from Lorette.  In the fifth, Brittany Griffin (Sterling, VA/Park View ) tied the game at 2-2 when she smacked a homerun over the left field fence, her second of the season and ninth of her RIT career.

St. Lawrence would take a 4-2 lead in the sixth inning.  Aisha O'Connor and Stratton had back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second.  After RIT made the second out of the inning, Chelsea Cavellier ripped a two-out double to left center that allowed O'Connor and Stratton to score, giving the Saints a 4-2 advantage. 

RIT looked to rally in seventh inning as LaVoie and Alissa Dixon (Rochester, NY/Webster Schroeder) had back-to-back singles with two outs.  A Saint fielding error allowed LaVoie to cross, bringing the Tigers within one at 4-3, but the home team made the final out to cut the rally short.

Elizabeth McGinley earned the win on the mound for the Saints as she gave up six hits, two earned runs while walking one and striking out six.  Dixon took the loss for RIT as she allowed seven hits and four earned runs while walking six and striking out four.

The Tigers are right back in action on Sunday with a road doubleheader at league foe Skidmore that gets underway at 1 p.m.