ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT softball team (13-21) lost a pair of tough games at non-league SUNY Fredonia (10-20) at Blue Devil Field on a sunny Wednesday afternoon. Fredonia took game one, 6-2, and rallied on two occasions to stun RIT in game two, 9-8.
Senior
Amanda Cook (Royal Palm Beach, FL/Suncoast) would record four hits and doubles in the doubleheader, while
Emma Sarles (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) hit a three-run homer for the Tigers in the nightcap.
In game one, Fredonia led from start to finish, scoring a run in the second inning and two in the third inning before
Tori Blaker (Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post West) and
Amanda Cook (Royal Palm Beach, FL/Suncoast) executed a perfect double steal, as Blaker nabbed second and Cook was able to beat the throw home to make it 3-1 Fredonia.
A two-run single in the fifth by Megan Medina would up Fredonia's lead to 5-1 and a run-scoring double by Nikki Lent gave the home team a 6-1 lead.
RIT would get one back in the seventh, as Cook reached on an error, scoring
Emily Shoemaker (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) to provide the final score.
Medina was 2-for-3 with three RBIs for the Blue Devils, while Lent and Alyssa Morgan both were 2-for-4 with a RBI. Erika Whitney earned her second win of the year on the mound for Fredonia, scattering seven hits in the complete-game win with five strikeouts.
Alexandria Lunderman (Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) was 2-for-4 for the Tigers, while Cook was 1-for-3 with a walk and a double. On the mound,
Sierra Valentine (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) took the loss, allowing 11 hits, while striking out two batters in 5 2/3 innings.
In game two, Fredonia scored first before RIT roared back with five runs in the top of the second inning to take a 5-1 lead. Lunderman would lead off with a single before Cook roped a double to right center to put runners on second and third. After Sales walked to load the bases, all three runners moved up a base on a wild pitch, allowing Lunderman to score and tie the game.
Tori Blaker (Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post West) would reach on a fielding error, allowing Cook to score and make it 2-1. Blaker would then steal second, with the ensuing throw sailing into centerfield, scoring Sales from third. Blaker would make it 4-1 scoring on a passed ball.
McKenzie Martin (Deposit, NY/Deposit) would later double and score on a fielder's choice from
Danielle Hotz (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby), giving RIT a 5-1 edge.
Fredonia would rally with five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to go back up 6-5, with the big hits, a solo home run by Kim Lotocki and a two-run single by Lent.
RIT would answer right back and take its final lead of the day, 8-6 in the fifth, as after a single by Cook and walk by
Katelyn Koester (Amherst, NY/St. Mary's School for the Deaf), Sales would hit a three-run homer, her second of the season and third of her career.
The Tigers would not be able to hold the lead, however, as Fredonia would score one in the bottom of the fifth and two in the bottom of the sixth inning to go back up 9-8.
RIT would threaten in the top of the seventh inning, getting runners on first and second with one out, but did not score.
Cook was 3-for-4 with two runs scored in game two, while Martin and Lunderman added two hits each. Sales drove in three runs. On the mound,
Laura Weintraub (Syosset, NY/Syosset) started, and lasted 3 2/3 innings before
Lauren Mahar (Rotterdam, NY/Schalmont) came in for the final 2 1/3.
Jessica Merle earned the win in relief, throwing 4 1/3 innings. Megan DeGroat came in for the save, protecting Fredonia's one-run lead over the final 2/3 of an inning. Lauren Pixley was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Cassidy Herman was also 2-for-3, and Khee Nance, 2-for-4 with a pair of stolen bases.
RIT is right back in action on Thursday, as they play their final regular season road contests of the season at Medaille College. That doubleheader begins at 3 p.m.
