ROCHESTER, N.Y.—For the first time in program history, the Skidmore College softball team will be playing in the Liberty League championship game.  The Thoroughbreds beat top seed Rochester 5-0 to advance to Saturday's final.
 
Skidmore (18-22) will find out it opponent after Friday's two elimination games. The Thoroughbreds will play at 12 p.m. and again at 2 p.m.  if necessary. The winner receives the Liberty League's automatic qualifier to the NCAA III Championships.
 
Efficient pitching, key defensive plays, and clutch hitting came together for the Thoroughbreds, who lost twice to the Yellowjackets (23-21) during the regular season (7-3, 9-0).
 
Amanda Carilli (15-14) allowed only four hits with no walks and no strikeouts. She got 15 groundouts, a diving line drive snag by Dani DeGregory and a diving catch in right field by Emily Mangan.
 
Skidmore took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when Jill Strileckis walked and scored from first on an outfield error on a deep fly to left by DeGregory.
 
The Thoroughbreds broke it open with four two-out runs in the sixth. May-Lin McEvoy singled up the middle, followed by a Kristina Foley single through the middle. Cassie Fishkin launched one off the wall in center to plate both runners.  Lila Rosenfeld reached on an infield error, scoring Fishkin.  Strikeckis took a 3-2 pitch to right center, moving Rosenfeld to third.  A perfect double steal made it 5-0.
 
Catcher Kristana Foley was 2-3 with a double for Skidmore.