ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT softball (21-14, 8-4 Liberty League) clinched a Liberty League postseason berth for the second straight season after splitting a doubleheader at University of Rochester (19-15, 4-6 Liberty League) at Southside Field on Friday. RIT rallied to win game one, 9-6, while Yellowjackets returned the favor in game two, 3-2 in eight innings.
 
In game one, RIT trailed 4-0 after one inning and rallied with five runs in the fourth to take a 5-4 lead. Rochester would score two runs in the bottom of the bottom of the fifth inning to re-take the lead, 6-5. Down to their final at-bats in the top of the seventh, the Tigers roared back with four runs to pick up the playoff clinching victory.
 
"This was a big win for us, with help from our pitching, clutch hitting, and strong defense," said RIT head coach Rebecca Stryker. "We are looking forward to seeing how the league standings play out and will prepare for next weekend's tournament."
 
The Yellowjackets stormed out to a 4-0 lead off of RIT starter Lauren Mahar (Rotterdam, NY/Schalmont) in the first inning on three hits and a walk. Jocelynn Blackshear had the big hit in the inning, a two-run double with two outs.
 
RIT's offense would get to Rochester starter Eleni Wechsler in the fourth inning, scoring five times. Erin Guinan (Geneva, NY/Geneva) led off with a single to center field. After Alexandria Lunderman (Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) reached on a sacrifice bunt and fielder's choice, Tori Blaker (Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post West) would hit an infield single to drive in Guinan to get the Tigers on the board.  Emily Lazarus (Whitehall, PA/Allentown Catholic) would drive in Sam Killian (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) with a single to left, making it 4-2 Rochester. Blaker and Lazarus would execute a perfect double steal, with Blaker scoring to cut the deficit to 4-3. With two outs, Alexa Farner (Gowanda, NY/Gownanda) would reach on an error, scoring Thayer to tie the game at 4-4. Sarah Thayer (Tully, NY/Fabius-Pompey) would complete the rally by singling home Farner.
 
Rochester would score a pair of unearned runs in the fifth inning, setting the stage for a dramatic seventh inning. Danielle Hotz (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) led off with a single to left and Thayer reached when a Rochester player was called for obstruction on a bunt attempt. Guinan would give RIT the lead for good with a two-run double to the gap in right center field, making it 7-6 Tigers. One out later, Killian would score Guinan with a bloop single into left field, and Olivia Doret (Fairfax, VA/Chantilly) would single home another run to give RIT a three-run cushion.
 
RIT hurler Torie Adler (West Chester, PA/B. Reed Henderson) would enter in the second inning and earn the win in relief, allowing two hits and a pair of unearned runs in 4 2/3 innings of relief. Sierra Valentine (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) earned her first save of the season, closing out the Yellowjackets with a scoreless seventh inning.
 
Guinan was 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored, and two RBIs. Doret was 2-for-4 with a RBI, while Blaker scored twice.
 
Anne Marie Cortes drove in three runs for the Yellowjackets. Wechsler took the loss, allowing 10 hits and seven earned runs, while striking out seven batters.
 
In game two, Rochester would rally from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 on a walk off wild pitch in eight innings. Blaker would steal home for the second straight game to give RIT a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. The Tigers would up the lead to 2-0 in the fifth, as Thayer would single home Farner, who led off the inning with a single of her own.
 
Rochester would get back in the game with a two-out run scoring single by Lydia Petricca in the fifth and bloop single by Michaela Farmer in the sixth that scored Cortes. RIT would threaten in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with one out, but a double play on a hard-hit line drive ended the threat.
 
Rochester would get the walk-off win in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Rachael Pletz led off with a double and was pinch run for by Raegan Herne. After a single moved Herne to third, she would score on a wild pitch to win the game.
 
Rochester out-hit RIT, 8-7. Hotz and Doret had two hits apiece to lead the way for the Tigers. Valentine took the loss on the mound, allowing eight hits and three runs, with three walks and two strikeouts.
 
Sam Malecki picked up the win for Rochester, allowing seven hits and one walk, while striking out a pair of batters in eight innings.
 
Rochester leads the all-time series between the two schools, 26-20.
 
RIT closes out the regular season on Sunday, with a pair of home contests against Nazareth College (17-13) from Tiger Stadium at 1 p.m.