PITTSFORD, NY – The RIT softball team (3-9) played its first games in 28 days, splitting a doubleheader at No. 11 St. John Fisher College (15-7) on Wednesday afternoon. Fisher won game one, 1-0 and RIT rebounded to take game two, 4-2.
In game one, seniors
Lauren Mahar (Rotterdam, NY/Schalmont) of RIT and Lindsey Thayer of St. John Fisher waged a tremendous pitcher's duel. Mahar was brilliant for the Tigers, allowing five hits and a run, while walking three and striking out five in a complete-game effort. Thayer was even better for the Cardinals, pitching a perfect game, striking out 15 batters. She induced three ground outs and three fly outs and needed just 73 pitches.
Fisher would score the only run in the bottom of the second inning, as Ashley Prince led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mary Claire Grosvenor. After a pop-up, Emma Savas drilled a clean single into left center field, scoring Prince.
In game two, the Cardinals would jump out in front, with an unearned run in the second inning, as Sam Schermerhorn drove in Sammie Torlish with two outs.
RIT would break through with four runs in the top of the fourth inning, as
Madisen Baldwin (Washougal, WA/Washougal) walked to lead off the inning.
Sarah Thayer (Tully, NY/Fabius-Pompey) singled and after a sacrifice bunt by
Nicole O'Donnell (Holbrook, NY/Sachem North),
Laura Weintraub (Syosset, NY/Syosset) strode to the plate. On a 1-0 count, Weintraub launched a deep fly ball over the left field wall for a 3-run homer, giving RIT a 3-1 lead. The Tigers added right to the lead, as
Danielle Hotz (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) singled, moved to second on an error and scored on a single by
Olivia Doret (Fairfax, VA/Chantilly) to make it 4-1.
The Cardinals threatened with a run in the sixth and looked to cut the lead to 4-3 in the seventh as Grosvenor reached on an error. Torlish tried to score from second, but a perfect throw home by O'Donnell and quick tag by
Raquel Estrada (Middletown, NY/Middletown) cut down the run to end the game.
Erin Guinan (Geneva, NY/Geneva) was 2-for-4 with a double, while Doret had two hits and a RBI. Sophomore hurler
Torie Adler (West Chester, PA/B. Reed Henderson) picked up her second win of the season, scattering five hits.
The Tigers are back in action on Friday, April 13 with a pair of games at Liberty League foe Skidmore College, starting at 3 p.m. The doubleheader was originally scheduled to be played on Sunday, April 15, but was moved up due to the threat of inclement weather. RIT will also take on Rensselaer Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.