Houghton Splits with RIT; Cardinals Drop Pair to Brockport
HOUGHTON v RIT
Houghton women's softball broke into the win column for the first time this season, splitting a double-header with Rochester Institute of Technology, 1-5 and 7-5, Wednesday at home.
The game two victory was the team's first win at their new home field.
It looked like the Highlanders would have that first victory in game one. Houghton jumped ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first, and the score was tied at one entering the top of the seventh inning, but the Tigers scored four times in the top of the inning. The Highlanders produced just one hit, a single by Morgan York, in the opener. Sarah Beirne pitched five innings, allowing one run on four hits. Ashley Schenk came on in relief, giving up four runs on four hits over two innings.
York took to the mound in game two and produced a strong performance for the hosts, spreading seven hits and 10 strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. She ran into some trouble in the top of the seventh, allowing four runs on two hits, two walks and a wild pitch. Fortunately, the Highlanders had built a 7-1 entering the inning, and the team was able to hang on to the 7-5 win.
It was York who helped her own cause by producing a 3-for-4 night at the plate with a run and an RBI.
The Highlanders scored single runs in the second and third innings to go up 2-1, before breaking through with five runs spread over the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth, Sarah Beirne singled and moved to third on a York double. Alyssa Espinosa came on to run for Beirne and scored on a wild pitch. York moved to third and scored on a single by Julianna Evans. Evans moved to second a passed ball then advanced to third on a single by Sam Patoff. Amber Wolcott then singled home Evans to put the Highlanders up 5-1.
The next inning, Houghton put two more runs across the plate. Paige Perry reached on an error and moved to second on another error that also put Bailey Shattell on first. Beirne then singled, driving home Perry and sending Shattell to third. York grounded out, but drove in Shattell for a 7-1 Houghton lead.
The Tigers scored four times in the top of the seventh. York got two quick outs, but allowed two runs and had two on base when she was relieved by Schenk. Schenk gave up a single and two walks, which scored two runs, before striking out the final Tiger batter.
Houghton finished with eight hits in the game. York had two doubles, while Sam Patoff was 2 for 3 with a double. Beirne also produced two hits, while Perry scored two runs.
ST. JOHN FISHER v BROCKPORT
The St. John Fisher college softball team dropped a pair of games Wednesday to visiting Brockport on a cold April afternoon. The home squad held a 5-3 advantage heading into the seventh inning in game one before the Golden Eagles exploded for seven runs en route to a 10-5 victory. In game two Fisher jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning but Brockport proved to have the better offensive output on their way to a 5-2 win.
Fisher falls to 15-7 on the season, while Brockport improves to 16-5.
Game 1
Trailing 1-0 in the second inning
Samantha Poules singled to centerfield to drive in
Jessica D'Angelo and knot up the game at 1.
In the bottom half of the third
Meghan Burns led off with a double and was knocked around the very next batter by
Jennifer Knaak to give the home squad a 2-1 advantage.
After swapping zeroes in the fourth Brockport fought back to even the score in the top half of the next inning. That tie score would not last long though as Burns led off the fifth with yet another double, later being hit around on a 2-run shot by D'Angelo to give Fisher a 4-2 edge.
The scrappy Golden Eagles sliced the Cardinals lead to just one in the sixth but
Jessie Smyrski launched a solo shot to left to give Fisher a 5-3 cushion heading into the final frame.
Brockport would however load the bases with no outs to begin the inning and quickly scored two runs to tie the game before erupting for five more to put the game out of reach.
D'Angelo ended the game 2-3 with two RBI.
Halie Schoff was credited with the loss to fall to 8-3 on the season.
Game 2
Fisher held an early 1-0 in the first inning on a
Lauren Owens single up the middle but the visitors would take over the lead in the second inning and never looked back.
Facing a 4-1 deficit in the bottom of the fifth D'Angelo notched her third RBI of the day to score Burns and cut the Golden Eagles lead to 4-2 but that is as close as the Cardinals would come.
Burns paced the Fisher offense going 2-3 in the game.
Lauren Wesolowski went the distance on the mound falling to 2-3 on the year.