SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Skidmore College softball team erased a late deficit, pulling off a 7-6 victory against Rochester in game one of a doubleheader split on a cold Saturday afternoon at Wagner Park. Rochester won game two, 5-3.
Skidmore (14-12, 2-4 Liberty League) completes the weekend with a 2-2 mark against Rochester and RIT. Rochester (8-13, 1-3) earned its first Liberty League win of the season in game two.
Weather played a large factor in the doubleheader, as high winds blew out to center field. The teams took full advantage, as Skidmore and Rochester hit five combined home runs.
Game one was a back-and-forth affair. After Rochester led the game with two quick runs, Skidmore answered with the long ball.
Lizette Roman-Johnston would lead off the inning with an infield single, setting the stage for
Karly Fishkin, as she cranked an 0-1 pitch to left center, tying the game at two.
Rochester would retake the lead, as Marissa Russo led off the third with a solo shot to left field, but Skidmore would answer in the bottom of the fourth, as Fishkin continued her strong day with a two-out, two-RBI single up the middle, scoring both Roman-Johnston and
Heather Mak. In the sixth, a Hannah Leahy two-RBI double gave the Yellowjackets a 5-4 lead, but once again, Skidmore responded. In the bottom of the frame, Mak led off with a single and Roman-Johnston brought her home with a towering shot to center field, giving Skidmore a 6-5 lead. An RBI single by
Emily Popp gave Skidmore a much needed insurance run, as they took a 7-5 lead.
With their backs against the wall, Rochester would manufacture a run in the seventh, but Skidmore pitcher
Amanda Carilli (11-5) kept the Yellowjackets at bay, forcing a groundout to end the contest. Carilli would pitch a complete game, allowing four earned runs, striking out three batters.
Skidmore would tally 13 hits in the victory. Roman-Johnston and Mak would hit a perfect 3-for-3 in the contest, while Fishkin went 3-for-4 with a team-leading four RBIs.
Jill Strileckis,
Kristina Foley,
Emily Popp, and
Hannah Paolucci would also add a hit each.
Russo, Leahy, and Gianna Melillo would each tally two hits to lead Rochester. Leahy (4-9) would take the loss, allowing seven earned in six innings.
Rochester would take an early 1-0 lead in game two, but Skidmore would once again come back, as Strileckis got Skidmore on the board, knotting the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the second. Rochester would pull ahead with a run in the third and three in the fifth, taking a 5-1 lead. In the sixth, the Thoroughbreds cut the lead in half, when Strileckis took an 0-1 pitch into left center for a two-run shot, her team-leading third of the season.
Elizabeth Bourne (4-3) would keep Skidmore at bay in the bottom of the seventh, preventing another Skidmore comeback. Bourne would strike out four in seven innings of work. Carilli (11-6) would strike out three in the loss.
Popp, Strileckis, and
Adrianna Garcia would each go 2-for-3 for the Thoroughbreds. Strileckis would drive in three runs and score once, adding a stolen base. Skidmore failed to draw a walk for the first time all season in game two.
Russo led Rochester with a 2-fpr-4 performance, scoring three runs and hitting a two-run home run in the third.
Skidmore will take the road for the first time since arriving in New York in early March, facing Hamilton in an afternoon doubleheader on Wednesday.
