BUFFALO, NY – Offense reigned supreme for the RIT softball team (15-21, 4-6 Liberty League), leading to a historic sweep against Medaille (16-16, 7-9 AMCC) in non-league action at McCarthy Park on a breezy Thursday afternoon. The Tigers scored early and often in a 13-7 win in game one, and had a record-breaking first inning, beating Medaille 24-7 in game two. RIT head coach Rebecca Striker also reached a milestone, picking up her 100th career victory in game one.
 
The Tigers improve to 12-2 all time against the Mavericks with the sweep, winning the last three contests between the programs. The Tigers set a school record with 37 runs in a doubleheader and combined to have 35 hits on Thursday.
 
RIT blew the doors open with a nine-hit, 16-run first inning in game two, the most runs scored in an inning in program history. Thirteen of the 16 runs came with one out, and the Tigers batted around twice. The Tigers' 24 runs were just three away from the all-time mark, set against LeMoyne College in 1980. RIT also racked up a season-high 18 hits.
 
An error got the rally started, with McKenzie Martin (Deposit, NY/Deposit) scoring the first run on a one-out error by the third baseman. Sam Killian (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) then drove in Danielle Hotz (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby), then stole second as Amanda Cook (Royal Palm Beach, FL/Suncoast) raced home for the third run. After a Laura Weintraub (Syosset, NY/Syosset) RBI single and an Alexandria Lunderman (Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) run via an error, Martin, Emily Shoemaker (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena), Killian, and Lunderman each recorded two run hits, to bring the score to 13-0. Two batters later, Weintraub drove in her second run of the inning, a two out single in left center field. The Tigers ended the historic inning with two runs on an error by the third baseman.
 
In the fourth inning, RIT added eight runs to put the game further out of reach. After a triple by Hotz, Cook drove her in on a single through the left side, eventually scoring herself on an error by the left fielder. Katelyn Koester (Amherst, NY/St. Mary's School for the Deaf) drove in two with an RBI single, and Hotz drove in one with singled up the middle for the 21-0 lead. The next batter, Cook, beat out a hit to the shortstop, driving in another run. Killan then ended the Tiger scoring with a two run single into center field.
 
Medaille added six runs in the fourth, and one in the fifth, but the Tigers prevailed via the eight-run rule.
 
Killian had a historic day at the plate in game two, going a perfect 5-for-5, driving in five runs, three in the first inning alone, and stealing a base. The five hits are tied for the most in program history, tying three other RIT players, and are the most by a Tiger player since 2008. Killian ended the doubleheader with eight hits and six runs, bumping her average to .425 this season.
 
Six different Tiger players drove in two runs, and nine players recorded at least a hit.
 
The 24 runs were more than enough for Sierra Valentine (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena), who picked up the victory, striking out three batters in three innings of work. Weintraub pitched two innings of relief, allowing just one earned run.
 
The Tigers also got on the board quickly in game one. After the Tigers loaded the bases to begin the game, Killian and Blaker hit consecutive singles to give the RIT its first runs. With Lunderman at the dish, a passed ball by the catcher scored Hotz for the three-run lead.
 
In the bottom of the inning, Medaille struck back for two runs, but in the third, the Tigers struck back. Cook brought the power, launching a one-out shot that cleared the wall for the home run, giving RIT the two-run lead again.
 
The next inning, the Tigers broke it open with four runs in the fourth and fifth innings. After a leadoff single and Thayer reaching on an error, Hotz and Cook each hit RBI singles. With two outs, Blaker took advantage of the error at third base, as Killian and Shoemaker scored to make it 8-2.
 
In the fifth, Thayer got the party started with an RBI single to left field. Thayer then scored on a Shoemaker single in the next at-bat, and an error by the left fielder scored Hotz. Blaker capped it off with an RBI double in the gap in right center field, increasing the margin to 12-2.
 
Medialle then scored four runs of its own, to avoid the eight run rule to end the fifth inning. In the top of the sixth, Emma Sarles (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) stayed composed at the plate with the bases loaded, drawing a walk to bring in the Tigers' 13th run.
 
After the Mavericks scored another in the bottom of the frame to get their seventh run, Weintraub pitched a scoreless seventh inning to pick up the victory.
 
Killian went 3-for-4 in game one, driving a run. Cook, Martin, Sarah Thayer (Tully, NY/Fabius-Pompey), Hotz, Blaker, and Koester each tallied two of the Tigers' 17 hits. Cook and Blaker drove home two RBIs each to lead the Tigers, as seven different players drove in a run.
 
In the circle, Weintraub picked up her first victory of the season, striking out four batters.
 
The Tigers will try to keep the offense going, returning to league play with a crucial home matchup against St. Lawrence on Saturday. Game one of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. RIT will honor seniors Cook, Martin, and Shoemaker.