Saxons Sweep Medaille; Ithaca Sweeps Union
ALFRED
The Alfred University softball team swept visiting Medaille College in a non-conference doubleheader Friday afternoon at Harrington Park on the AU campus.
Sophomore third baseman
Liz Thompson (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) went 4-for-4 with a triple, three runs scored and two RBIs to lead AU to a 10-7 win in the opener. AU senior
Alison Wickwire (Towanda, PA/Towanda) allowed four earned runs on six hits while striking out three to improve to 5-1 on the year.
In the second game, AU sophomore first
Sophia Chiavatti (Austin, CA/Foothills) scattered six hits and struck out four to improve to 3-0 with the complete game, five-inning decision in a 17-2 Saxon victory. Wickwire hit a three-run homerun – her second of the twinbill – and drove in five runs to lead the Saxons, who improved to 14-2 on the year
In the opener, AU plated three runs in the first and fourth innings to take a 6-0 lead. Medaille (7-10) tallied a run in the fifth and three in the sixth to make it 6-4. Alfred scored four in the bottom of the sixth to go up 10-4 before the Mustangs scored three in the seventh off freshman reliever
Kyra Nadzam (New Smyrna Beach, FL/New Smyrna Beach). Wickwire re-entered and got three outs to secure the victory.
Junior shortstop
Nicole Maher (Newark, DE/Caravel Academy) had two doubles, scored once and drove in a run; Wickwire blasted a three-run homerun and walked three times; junior
Jasmine Picini (Alexandria, VA/West Potomac) hit a two-run pinch-hit single; and Chiavatti had two hits, including a double, and scored a run.
In the Game Two victory, AU led 6-0 after two innings before breaking the game open with eight runs in the third to take a 14-0 lead. AU added three in the fourth before surrendering two runs (one unearned) in the fifth. Thompson went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. In four games this week (including Thursday's doubleheader against RIT, Thompson went 12-for-14 with nine runs scored and four driven in.
Junior
Mackenzie Miller (Newport, OR/Newport) was 2-for-3 with a triple and scored three times; Maher hit a two-run double and scored twice; Chiavatti had two hits and three RBIs; and Picini scored once and drove in three with a bases-clearing double.
ITHACA
The Ithaca College softball team swept a doubleheader at Union Friday, defeating the Dutchwomen 7-0 in game one before winning game two, 1-0. Ithaca's two-game shutout moves the Bombers' overall record to 4-8.
Game 1: Ithaca – 7, Union – 0
Junior
Laura Quicker earned the complete game shutout victory in the first game of the day. She held the Dutchwomen to just two hits over 7.0 innings, and recorded a season-high six strikeouts.
Classmate
Casey Gavin went 2-for-4 with a triple and a season-high three RBI. Junior
Kelly Robichaud was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Senior
Nicole Ciricillo rounded out the multi-hit performers with a double and a single in three plate appearances.
The Bombers opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the third inning. With runners on second and third, freshman
Emily Bloom placed a bunt to reach on a fielder's choice and advance both runners.
Robichaud followed with an identical play, reaching on a bunt fielder's choice to score another Ithaca run. With one out, Gavin grounded out to the shortstop in the next at-bat, bringing home the third Bomber run to put the score at 3-0.
Ithaca tacked on three more runs in the top of the fifth, putting the score at 6-0 in favor of the Bombers. Back-to-back extra base hits started the scoring streak, including a double from Robichaud and a triple from Gavin. A wild pitch scored Gavin from third later in the frame, capping the Bombers' inning.
Ithaca recorded another insurance run in the sixth, thanks to an RBI single from Gavin. Union was unable to answer back, giving the Bombers' a 7-0 win in game one.
Game 2: Ithaca – 1, Union – 0
Junior
Allison Macari picked up the Bombers' second complete game shutout of the day. She allowed just two hits and picked up three strikeouts in the circle, moving her record to 2-4.
Robichaud and senior
Monica Capolongo each went 2-for-3 in game two, with both picking up two singles. Sophomore
Jessie Fleck recorded Ithaca's lone RBI.
A pitchers' duel carried a scoreless game into the top of the sixth, before the Bombers scored the game-winning run. After two singles and a walk loaded the bases, Fleck sent a grounder back up towards the middle. Although Fleck was put out on the play, she was able to advance the runners and put the Bombers up 1-0.
Union was unable to score in its final two offensive innings, giving Ithaca the 1-0 win and the doubleheader sweep.