CLERMONT, FL — The RIT women's softball team (5-1) picked up two convincing victories on day one of the National Training Center Spring Games at Hancock Park Saturday. The Tigers won 10-2 against the Sage Colleges (1-9) in game one, before coming back with a 6-1 victory over Bethany College (0-2) in game two.
"We came out with a great start against some strong teams," said RIT head coach
Rebecca Stryker. "The team really worked well together. We're looking to carry this through the rest of the week."
In the first game, against Sage, nine different Tigers crossed the plate, and seven different batters registered at least a hit in the win. RIT out-hit Sage 10-2, while the Gators committed two errors, compared to just one by the Tigers.
Sierra Valentine (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) picked up her first win of the season, pitching all six innings, allowing just two runs on two hits, while striking out seven. Allison Ford got credit for the loss for the Gators, allowing seven runs on seven hits, in three innings pitched.
The Tigers opened with a 7-spot in the first inning, as they had two RBI singles, followed by a grand slam off the bat of
Alexa Farner (Gowanda, NY/Gownanda). The Tigers would allow just two runs in the first six innings, and then put up three more of their own in the bottom of the sixth, sealing the game.
In game two, RIT out-hit Bethany 8-2 and four different Tigers scored runs.
Erin Guinan (Geneva, NY/Geneva) and
Laura Weintraub (Syosset, NY/Syosset) each had a pair of scores, while Farner and
Sarah Thayer (Tully, NY/Fabius-Pompey) had one apiece.
Lauren Mahar (Rotterdam, NY/Schalmont) improved to 2-0 on the season, pitching a complete game seven innings, allowing just one runs on two hits, while striking out five. Sam Binkley picked up the loss for the Bisons, allowing six runs on eight hits, in six innings pitched.
Game two was tight early, as both RIT and Bethany scored a run in the opening inning, as
Alexandria Lunderman (Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) drove in Guinan on a base hit, before Sammie Weiss scored on a throwing error in the bottom of the first for Bethany.
Neither team would score again until the fourth, where RIT was helped out by the Bethany defense. An error on an attempted throw from catcher Kayla Dinsmore was thrown over the head of Sarah Coss, giving the Tigers the chance for two more runs to score. The Tigers then led 3-1, and tacked on three more in the sixth inning, on a two-RBI single by
Danielle Hotz (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby), and an RBI single by
Tori Blaker (Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post West).
The Tigers are back at it on Sunday in day two of the National Training Center Spring Games, as RIT will take on Western New England University at 1 p.m., before battling with Gordon College at 6 p.m. Both games will be played at Hancock Park in Clermont.
