VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – The RIT softball team (3-1) split a pair of games at the Virginia Wesleyan Beach Blast on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers fell to Western Connecticut State, 6-5 in the opener, before rebounding to defeat St. Joseph's of Brooklyn, 3-0 in the finale.

RIT would score four times in the top of first inning against Western Connecticut State before the Colonials battled back with a pair of runs in each of the first, fourth, and fifth innings. RIT would threaten in the top of the seventh with a run in, along with tying and go-ahead runs on base, but could not get the big hit.

Danielle Hotz (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) was 2-for-3 with a run scored and run batted in, while Blaker had a two-run double. Emily Lazarus (Whitehall, PA/Allentown Catholic) also drove in a run. Sierra Valentine (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) took the loss on the mound, scattering eight hits and four earned runs, while striking out four batters.

Erica Bower led the Colonials by going 3-for-3 with three runs scored, two doubles, and a run batted in. Charlie Plasczynski was 2-for-3.

In the finale, freshman hurler Torie Adler (West Chester, PA/B. Reed Henderson) was dominant, allowing just four hits while striking out eight batters for her first collegiate shutout.

RIT broke open a scoreless game with a run in the fourth inning and two in the fifth. Alexandria Lunderman (Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) and Lazarus drove in a run each. Lazarus had two singles, while Tori Blaker (Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post West) was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored.

The Tigers knocked off Hunter College and Lancaster Bible College on Friday to open the season.

RIT is back in action starting March 11 at the National Training Center games in Clermont, Fla.