Courtesy of UofRAthletics.com
University of Rochester softball ran its win streak to 16 games with a doubleheader sweep of crosstown rival RIT to open Liberty League conference play on Saturday at Southside Field. The Yellowjackets took game one, 4-1, and game two, 4-0, to move to 19-5 (2-0 LL) on the season, while RIT falls to 3-17-1 (0-2).
GAME ONE: Rochester 4, RIT 1
Through the Tigers picked up an early baserunner on a Rochester defensive miscue in the top of the first, Molly Broccolo worked around the two-out error, getting RIT’s Erin Ozminkowski to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the frame and send the Yellowjackets to the plate.
But while Jenna Gorecki and Hannah Keiper got aboard with a pair of two-out singles for UR, Jessica Majot kept the ‘Jackets off the scoreboard with a groundout to end the first.
Both the Tigers and Yellowjackets left baserunners on in the second, with UR stranding a pair following a one-out hit-by-pitch and walk. But after Broccolo worked the first 1-2-3 frame of the afternoon, Rochester broke through in the bottom of the first.
A one-out double by Gorecki put a runner on second for Keiper, who brought home the game’s first run with an RBI single, giving the ‘Jackets a 1-0 advantage after three.
Broccolo then worked another 1-2-3 frame in the top of the fourth, and the ‘Jackets’ offense went right back to work in the bottom of the inning.
Molly Mason led off the bottom of the fourth with a single up the middle, and a batter later, Alexis Klee followed with another single to put two one with one out. Kim then legged out a bunt single, bringing home Mason from second to make it 2-0, before Baily Nicholoff brought Klee home with a sacrifice fly to center, extending UR’s lead to 3-0.
Rochester would add another run in the bottom of the fifth on Savannah Nowak’s RBI double to left center, scoring Loren Castilloux to give the Yellowjackets a 4-0 lead, before RIT snuck a run across in the top of the sixth.
Elise Guth led off the inning with a single, just the second hit Broccolo allowed through five frames. The first-year then got a pair of groundouts to put two outs on the board, but a defensive miscue allowed Guth to score, cutting Rochester’s lead to 4-1.
However, Broccolo struck out Ozminkowski swinging to end the sixth, and although the Webster, NY native ran into a little bit more trouble in the seventh, with a pair of one-out singles from Autumn Broyles and Jessica Majot bringing the tying run to the plate, Broccolo got Kristin Hino to pop out and Guth to ground into a fielder’s choice to finish off the 4-1 victory.
Broccolo (10-2) earned the win, allowing an unearned run on four hits while striking out four, while Marjot (2-5) took the loss, allowing four runs on nine hits, walking three and striking out two.
Gorecki, Keiper and Mason all tallied multi-hit days, while four different Yellowjackets drove in each of UR’s four runs.
On the base paths, Mason tallied UR’s lone stolen bases, while Gorecki and Nowak recorded UR’s two extra-base hits, both doubles.
GAME TWO: Rochester 4, RIT 0
After Emily Sharlach worked around a leadoff baserunner in the top of the first, the Yellowjackets struck first in the bottom of the frame. Ally Kim drew a leadoff walk and stole second, and though Morgan Best retired the next two batters, Keiper smacked an RBI single to center, easily scoring Kim to give UR a 1-0 lead.
Sharlach then cruised through the next three frames, retiring sixth straight before Guth reached on a throwing error in the third, but Sharlach got Bailey Kehl to foul out to strand Guth and then set the Tigers down in order in the top of the fourth before the ‘Jackets added to their lead.
Jensen Sminchak got Rochester’s bottom of the fourth started with a leadoff walk but was caught trying to steal second. Nowak then reached on a hit-by-pitch and a batter later, Klee singled to bring up Kim, who blooped a two-run double into right center, scoring both Nowak and Klee to extend Rochester’s lead to 3-0.
The ‘Jackets would add another in the bottom of the fifth on Sminchak’s RBI single, scoring Adryiana Rodriguez, while Sharlach continued to cruise over the final three frames.
With some help from a double play turned by Nicholoff and Mason, Sharlach worked a 1-2-3 fifth, struck out two to set the Tigers down in order in the sixth, and then finished things off with a pair of flyouts in the top of the seventh to seal UR’s 4-0 victory and finish off the sweep.
Sharlach (3-1) picked up the win, allowing just one hit over 7.0 shutout innings, striking out four. Best (0-5) took the loss, allowing all four Rochester runs, while Hannah Slater pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
At the plate, Kim went 3-for-3 with a walk, two stolen bases, a run scored and two RBI. Keiper drew a pair of walks, going 1-for-1 with an RBI, while Sminchak went 1-for-2 with a walk and RBI.
The Yellowjackets next head to Ithaca, NY to continue conference play against the Ithaca College Bombers on Sunday, April 16 in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.
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