Saints Win Game One Against Rochester; Tie Game Two in Seventh, but Yellowjackets Earn Split
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Tara FreemanAisha O'Connor '15 hit two homeruns on the day, including a grand slam in game two.
April 15: The St. Lawrence University softball team handed the University of Rochester its first loss in Liberty League action on Saturday, earning a split in Rochester, NY. The Saints (15-9, 2-6) took the opener, 5-4, recording the program's first win against the Yellowjackets since 2002. A five-run seventh inning in game two knotted the game at 6-6, but Rochester (19-10, 5-1) earned the walk-off win on an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh.
Junior captain Elizabeth McGinley got the win in game one as she pitched 4.1 innings and allowed seven hits, three runs (two earned), walked two and struck out one. First-year student Kyle Plimpton relieved and earned her fourth save of the year as she gave up one hit, one unearned run, one walk and struck out three in 2.2 innings.
St. Lawrence opened the scoring in the second inning with the help of Rochester misplays. Sophomore Caroline Kieltyka walked, and then junior Lauren Weisbarth bunted. Both runners advanced on an overthrow by the catcher, then Kieltyka scored when the ball eluded the right fielder. Weisbarth would come around to score on a groundout by McGinley.
Three batters later, first-year student Aisha O'Connor hit her first homerun of the season over the left field fence, bringing sophomore Khalshia White home with her to put the Saints on top 4-0.
Rochester answered with a run in the second and the fourth inning to bring the score to 4-2, but St. Lawrence tacked on another run in the fifth when sophomore Leslie Stratton doubled, moved to third on classmate Becky Allen's sacrifice bunt, and scored on Kieltyka's sac fly to right to make it 5-2.
Rochester scored unearned runs in the fifth and sixth to pull within 5-4, but Plimpton allowed only one baserunner after that, walking a runner with one down in the seventh but forcing two infield popups to follow and end the game.
Plimpton continued into game two for St. Lawrence and allowed 11 hits in 5.2 innings, six runs, one walk and four strikeouts. McGinley relieved after a double put runners on second and third with two outs, and Rochester took a 6-1 lead after six innings of play.
St. Lawrence exploded for five runs in the seventh inning with the help of O'Connor's second homerun of the day, a grand slam, bringing the Saints to within one at 6-5. Allen hit a homerun of her own with two out, tying the score at 6-6, but Brittany Grage and the Yellowjackets got the third out to get out of the inning.
In Rochester's half, Natalee Sassaman reached on a Saint fielding error and then Cara Celorio bunted down the third base line where the ball nestled against the chalk. Sassaman raced to an unguarded third base, just beating a throw and tag, and Celorio took second. The Saints brought the infield in and Sarah Wayson hit the first pitch past second base to drive in the run to give the Yellowjackets the 7-6 win and the split.
St. Lawrence will travel to Clinton, NY on Wednesday, April 18, to take on Hamilton before a six-game homestand the following week, with doubleheaders against Skidmore, Potsdam and Plattsburgh.