NAPLES, FL – The RIT softball team (5-7) wrapped up play at the 2019 Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic by recording a split on Friday. RIT opened the day by losing to Crown College (3-2), 12-3 in six innings before ending the trip on a high note, shutting out New Jersey City University (1-11), 8-0 in five innings.
 
Versus Crown, Brianna Bilich (Penryn, CA/Del Oro) drove in a pair of runs in the first inning, while Haley Czerwinski (East Amherst, NY/Clarence) hit a run-scoring double in the fourth inning. Czerwinski was the lone Tiger to have two hits, while Raquel Estrada (Middletown, NY/Middletown) reached base three times on two walks and a hit.
 
Crown scored at least a run in all six innings and out-hit RIT, 11-5. Telma Roesler scored three times and two hits for Crown, while Ellie Clark and Olivia Dols drove in two runs each.
 
RIT scored twice in the first inning, three times in the third and three more runs in the fourth for the 8-0 win over New Jersey City.
 
Estrada hit a solo home run to left field in the first inning after Julia Vaillancourt (Braintree, MA/Braintree) led off with a single and scored on a wild pitch.
 
Estrada and Jennifer Vickery (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville) each drove in two runs. Sarah Thayer (Tully, NY/Fabius-Pompey) was 2-for-2 with two runs scored, while Vaillancourt scored twice and drove in a run. Jill Vorreiter (Fisherville, KY/Mercy Academy of Louisville) also singled for the Tigers, while Laura Weintraub (Syosset, NY/Syosset) scored a run.
 
Abcde Cortinas (San Antonio, TX/Highlands) recorded her first collegiate shutout, allowing just three hits, while striking out one batter over five innings.

RIT returns north and will take on D'Youville College on Monday, March 25 at 3 p.m. in Buffalo.