From University of Rochester Athletics
Rochester's hitters produced 26 hits and 25 runs on Saturday afternoon as the Yellowjackets swept a softball doubleheader from Union College at Southside Field.
It was the Liberty League season opener for both teams. Rochester won the opener, 16-8, in five innings, but needed an 11-run third inning to help. The Yellowjackets took the nitecap, 9-1. Game two lasted six innings.
Union scored its nine runs in the twinbill on five hits, nine walks, two hit batsmen, and five Rochester errors.
Rochester improved to 12-7 overall, 2-0 in the Liberty League. Union is 5-10 overall, 0-2 in the Liberty League. Union plays at RIT on Sunday. Rochester hosts RPI.
In game one, Rochester's Julia Liberto was 3-3 with two runs scored and six RBIs. She hit a single, triple, and home run. Shelby Corning was 3-3 with two runs scored. Brittany Grage, Sarah Wayson, and Kayla Kibling each drove in two runs. In game two, Eleni Wechsler was 2-2 with two RBIs. Tiffany White hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning for her first career home run. Corning and Grage each had two hits.
The game one victory went to Gabrielle Alatorre. She relieved Grage in the top of the first after two hits, three walks, and a hit batsman. Alatorre pitched 2.2 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) with two hits, three walks, and two strikeouts. Sam Malecki pitched the last two innings. She walked one.
In game two, Wechsler pitched a one-hitter with two walks and six strikeouts for the complete game win. The run she allowed was unearned.
Union's Allyson Staats took the loss in each game. In the opener, she pitched 4.0 innings, giving up 12 hits, 11 runs (eight earned), with two walks and three strikeouts. Dani Hennel pitched parts of the third and fifth innings. She walked three, allowed three hits, five runs (four earned). In game two, Staats allowed 11 hits, nine runs (six earned), with two walks and three strikeouts. Heading into the bottom of the sixth, Rochester led, 8-1. The first three Yellowjackets got hits. Corning singled and moved to second on Kibling's single through the left side. Wayson pushed a bunt past the reach of third baseman Courtney Casey. No one could get to it and Corning raced home with the ninth run to end the game on the mercy rule.
The Dutchwomen took advantage of Grage's wildness in the first inning to score five runs. Staats helped her own cause with a two-run single. She later scored when Brianna Godlewski drew a bases loaded walk. Joanna Chalifoux scored on a bases loaded walk by Alatorre and Molly O'Brien came home on a wild pitch.
Rochester nibbled for two in the first – RBI singles by Lauren Muni and Liberto. Chalifoux's two-run home run to left put Union up, 7-2. Hennel's run-scoring single in the third made it 8-3 as Rochester came to bat in its half.
Wechsler and Muni singled before Liberto homered to left center (8-6). After a strikeout, Rochester put together five straight hits. Kibling's RBI single put Rochester within 8-7. Wayson doubled home two runs for a 9-8 lead and Grage homered to right center, giving Rochester an 11-8 lead. Hennel replaced Staats on the mound. She walked two before Liberto tripled to center.
In game two, Wechsler doubled home Grage in the first inning. Rochester scored three unearned runs in the second. On White's comebacker, Staats tried to throw to second to catch Liberto as the lead runner. The ball sailed into the outfield. Liberto scored and White took second. Corning tripled her home and scored on Kibling's sac fly.
Union scored its run in the third with two down and Laura Aptowitz on second. Casey's long fly to center was dropped by Corning. She quickly recovered and threw out Casey trying to stretch it to second base.
Wechsler retired seven straight after that. Union put up a mild threat in the sixth. With one down, Hennel was hit by a pitch. Casey bounced out, moving her to second. She took third on a wild pitch before Camille Corbin walked. Staats grounded to short to end the inning.