Union Tops Saints in Pair of Tight Games, 1-0 and 5-4
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Tara FreemanLauren Weisbarth '13 had two hits in game two against Union on Sunday.
May 1: The St. Lawrence University softball team battled Union College in a pair of Liberty League games on Sunday in Schenectady, NY. The Dutchwomen were able to score the lone run in the 10th inning of a 1-0 pitcher's duel in game one, then used a walk-off single to capture game two, 5-4.
The Saints, who fell to 11-19 overall, will be the No. 4 seed in the 2011 Liberty League Tournament and will face off with the top-seeded Engineers of Rensselaer. Union (15-21) is the No. 3 seed and will take on the University of Rochester next weekend in the conference tournament.
St. Lawrence senior captain Rachel Duffany pitched a great game in the opener, going 9.1 innings, scattering five hits and allowing only one run in the bottom of the 10th. However, she was outdone by Alyssa Wolejko, who tossed a two-hit gem in 10.0 innings with 13 strikeouts and no walks to earn the victory.
The Saints had their best chance to get on the board in game one in the second inning, as rookies Caroline Kieltyka and Khalshia White had singles against Wolejko and were on second and third with only one out. However, the Union hurler buckled down and struck out the next two batters swinging to end the threat.
After the visitors went quietly in the top of the 10th with a runner starting on second base, the Dutchwomen capitalized on their opportunity and pushed across the winning run. Nina Cervini singled to score Callee Heywood and give the home team a dramatic 1-0 win.
The Saints would battle back nicely in game two, though, and found themselves with a 4-2 lead in the sixth inning behind senior captain Meg Goodemote. Despite trailing 2-1 in the top of the fourth, St. Lawrence pushed across three runs to take its first lead of the day. First-year student Leslie Stratton delivered a two-run single with two outs, while sophomore Lauren Weisbarth followed with another clutch RBI hit for a 4-2 lead.
Needing a rally, Union got the big hit from Amanda Blake, who hammered a two-run homer to left-center field in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie things up at 4-4. After St. Lawrence failed to score in the top of the seventh, the Dutchwomen used three hits against Duffany, who came out of the bullpen, to earn the 5-4 victory. With two outs and runners on second and third, Lauren Hoffman singled home Melissa Lee to give Union its second one-run win of the day, 5-4.
Goodemote had a no decision after giving up four earned runs in 6.0 innings on 11 hits. Meanwhile, Blake earned the victory after also giving up four earned runs on eight hits while collecting eight strikeouts.
St. Lawrence will complete the 2011 regular season on Tuesday, May 3 when the team hosts St. John Fisher in a non-conference doubleheader at 3:30pm.