POTSDAM, NY – The RIT softball team (16-7, 3-1 Liberty League) picked up a split on the road at Liberty League foe Clarkson University (11-11, 1-1 Liberty League) Sunday afternoon. Clarkson took game one 5-2, while RIT rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win game two, 5-3.
"Clarkson had some solid hitters and their pitchers kept us off balance in game one," said RIT head coach
Rebecca Stryker. "I liked how we came back in game two, fought at the plate and got some big hits. I am happy with our start to league play."
In game one, Clarkson jumped out to the early lead and never looked back. The Golden Knights opened the scoring in the first inning, as Michele Winn scored Raeanna Dunn on an RBI single to right field, making it 1-0. RIT came right back with as
Alexandria Lunderman (Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) singled and would later score on an error by Clarkson, tying the game at one. The Golden Knights would take the lead right back, however, on two Tiger errors, making it 3-1 after two innings.
Erin Guinan (Geneva, NY/Geneva) hit a solo home run to left field in the third, her second in two days and third of the season, cutting the deficit to 3-2, but Clarkson would tack on two more runs on a two-run home run off the bat of Winn.
Lauren Mahar (Rotterdam, NY/Schalmont) made the start for the Tigers, going four full innings and allowing three earned runs on eight hits.
Torie Adler (West Chester, PA/B. Reed Henderson) pitched two innings of hitless ball in relief.
Offensively, Guinan led the Tigers with a solo home run, while Lunderman scored the other run.
Olivia Doret (Fairfax, VA/Chantilly) had two hits.
For the Golden Knights, Winn led all players with three RBIs on a home run and a single, to go with two hits and a run scored. Dunn also had two hits, while four other players added one hit each. Jamie Bridge started the game and pitched six innings, with four strikeouts. Maggie Stark came in for the final inning, earning the save.
In game two, RIT trailed 3-1 until the top of the fourth inning, when
Alexa Farner (Gowanda, NY/Gownanda) and Guinan both singled to lead off the inning, giving the Tigers runners at first and second.
Danielle Hotz (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) dropped down a sacrifice bunt that was thrown into right field corner by the first baseman, allowing both runners to score and tie the game at 3-3.
RIT would take the lead for good in the top of the sixth inning, as Hotz singled through the left side with two outs and Blaker followed with a home run to left field, giving RIT a 5-3 advantage. It was Blaker's second homer of the season.
The homer wrapped up a 3-for-4 effort at the plate by Blaker in game two, as RIT held a slight 11-10 advantage in hits. Guinan was 2-for-4 with a run scored and run batted in, while
Sarah Thayer (Tully, NY/Fabius-Pompey) and Farner were both 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Senior hurler
Sierra Valentine (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) picked up her seventh win of the season, scattering five hits, while striking out three batters over 4 2/3 innings of relief. Adler got the start for the Tigers, allowing five hits and three runs over the first 2 1/3 innings.
Bridge, Lancette, Winn, and Messier had two hits apiece for the Golden Knights in game two. Leah Allen was the starting pitcher for Clarkson, allowing seven hits and three runs, one earned, in three innings. Katie Pelton took the loss on the mound, allowing two hits and Blaker's go-ahead home run.
RIT leads the all-time series between the two schools, 6-2.
RIT is back in action on Saturday, April 15, as they head to conference rival St. Lawrence University for a pair of games that get underway at 1 p.m.
