ROCHESTER, NY – Timely hitting powered the RIT softball team (10-12, 3-3 Liberty League) to a crucial sweep of red-hot Liberty League foe Clarkson (17-7, 2-2 Liberty League) at Tiger Stadium on a warm and breezy Saturday afternoon. The Tigers took game one in walk-off fashion, 4-3, and then completed the sweep with a 2-1 victory in game two.

"We really came together with some tough defense and big hits in key situations," said RIT head coach Rebecca Stryker. "Both pitchers worked through a tough Clarkson lineup well and we are looking forward to tomorrow's games against Skidmore."

Down 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh of game one, after a lead-off double by McKenzie Martin (Deposit, NY/Deposit) and a walk by Sarah Thayer (Tully, NY/Fabius-Pompey), Tori Blaker (Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post West) ripped a two-run double, scoring Martin and a hustling Thayer from second base to start the celebration for the Tigers. Blaker finished with two hits in the contest, scoring two runs and drawing a walk.

Danielle Hotz (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) and Alexandria Lunderman (Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) each tallied two hits, as the Tigers out-hit Clarkson 10-8. Lunderman and Emily Lazarus (Whitehall, PA/Allentown Catholic) drove in the other Tiger runs. On the mound, Sierra Valentine (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) picked up her sixth victory, going the distance, allowing three runs and striking out seven batters.

Erika Jensen drove in two runs to lead the Golden Knights. Jamie Bridge pitched the seventh inning for Clarkson, giving up the two runs in the loss.

The Tigers struck first in the second inning. After a walk by Blaker, Lazarus drove her home with an RBI single three batters later. With one out in the top of the third, RIT made an excellent defensive play, as Lunderman robbed Katie Scott at first base, diving at a hard hit ball down the first base line for the out.

In the top of the fourth, Clarkson got on the board, taking the lead with two runs. Jensen hit a shot deep into center field, the ball extending past the reach of Amanda Cook (Royal Palm Beach, FL/Suncoast), scoring Caitlin Foley and Summer Lancette. The Golden Knights added a run in the fifth, leading 3-1 entering the bottom of the sixth inning.

Blaker got the rally started for the Tigers leading off in the bottom of the sixth, legging out a triple deep into center field, the ball hitting the outfield wall on the fly. Lunderman reduced the deficit to two, with a one out single through the left side. RIT ran into trouble in the top of the seventh, as the bases were loaded with two outs. Valentine reached back, and struck out Jensen swinging, to set the stage for RIT heroics in the bottom of the frame.

RIT hurler Lauren Mahar (Rotterdam, NY/Schalmont) shut down the Golden Knights the first time through the lineup in game two, as Clarkson was hitless through three innings. Bridge broke up the no-hitter in the fourth with a single that struck Mahar to begin the inning. Chelsea Elliot then hit a two-out double to the wall in left center field, scoring Bridge to grab the 1-0 lead for Clarkson.

In the top of the sixth, Bridge doubled, advancing to third on the groundout. Armstrong walked, and then ran to second while Bridge ran home to try to catch the Tigers napping. After a throw to second base, Thayer quickly threw home to Emily Lazarus (Whitehall, PA/Allentown Catholic), who tagged out Bridge on a heads-up play, keeping the Golden Knights off the board.

In the bottom of the frame, RIT took the lead. After a leadoff single by Blaker, Sam Killian (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) reached on an error. After Killain stole second, Lunderman doubled to center field, scoring both Blaker and Killian to take the 2-1 lead.

In the top of the seventh, Mahar struck out two Clarkson batters, and then forced a groundout to the shortstop to complete the sweep.

Mahar pitched the full seven innings, allowing just one run on four hits, striking out eight batters for her fourth victory. Blaker completed a solid day, going 2-for-3 in game two. Lunderman, Lazarus, Martin, and Killian each tallied a hit.

With the sweep, RIT improved to 5-1 against Clarkson in the all-time series. The Tigers also snapped a previous Golden Knights run of 17 wins in 18 games.

The Tigers will host Skidmore for two games on Sunday, with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.