TUCSON, AZ – The RIT softball team (2-6) got back in the win column Tuesday at the Tucson Invitational. RIT lost a close pitcher's duel to Hood College (5-4) in the opener, 1-0 and used a four-run seventh inning to rally and defeat University of Dubuque (3-7), 6-3 in game two.
In the opener against Hood,
Samm Carroll (Woodbridge, NJ/Woodbridge) and
Madisen Baldwin (Washougal, WA/Washougal) had RIT's two hits, a one-out single in the fifth inning and two-out single in the sixth RIT did leave seven runners on base.
RIT hurler
Lauren Mahar (Rotterdam, NY/Schalmont) was strong, allowing just four hits and one run in the complete-game effort. She struck out three batters.
Hood scored its lone run in the third inning, as Sophia Leaman hit a run-scoring double. Leaman did the rest on the mound, allowing just the two hits in the complete-game shutout.
Against Dubuque, RIT trailed 3-2 in the top of the seventh inning before erupting for four runs to earn the win.
Laura Weintraub (Syosset, NY/Syosset) led off the seventh with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by
Francesca Cusato (Schenectady, NY/Guilderland).
Madisen Baldwin (Washougal, WA/Washougal) hit a pinch-hit double to center field, scoring Weintraub to tie the game at 3-3. The next batter,
Sarah Thayer (Tully, NY/Fabius-Pompey) doubled in Baldwin to give RIT to a 4-3 lead.
Olivia Doret (Fairfax, VA/Chantilly) singled to left center, moving Thayer to third. Thayer would score on a throwing error by the catcher after Doret stole second, making it a 5-3 game. Doret would come around to score on another error to complete the scoring.
Torie Adler (West Chester, PA/B. Reed Henderson) earned the win on the mound, allowing eight hits and three runs, while striking out three batters in six innings. Mahar came on in the bottom of the seventh to pick up the save, scattering a pair of hits.
Danielle Hotz (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) went 3-for-4 with a double and run scored, while Doret was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Raquel Estrada (Middletown, NY/Middletown) doubled and drove in a pair of runs for the Tigers.
Gabrielle Marchese, Taylor Allard and Courtney Markin had two hits apiece for Dubuque. Makenzie Kopp took the loss on the mound, allowing nine hits and six runs (four earned), while striking out five batters.
RIT wraps up play at the Tucson Invitational on Wednesday against the University of Wisconsin La Crosse at 11 a.m. EST and Macalester College at 1 p.m. EST.