The University of Rochester softball team scattered 24 runs on 23 hits over two games to grab a pair of Liberty League wins (13-1, 11-0) over visiting St. Lawrence on Saturday afternoon. With the wins, the Yellowjackets improve to 22-13 overall (4-2 Liberty League) while the Saints drop to 11-10 overall and 1-3 in League play.
Game one recap: Erin Clark went 3-for-3 with two home runs, three runs batted in, and three runs scored to power the Yellowjackets past St. Lawrence 13-1. After scoring one run in the first inning, Rochester tallied four runs in each of the next three innings to put the game out of reach. The 10-run rule came into effect at the midway through the fifth inning.
The 'Jackets opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Lindsay Macaluso was hit by a pitch to lead off and proceeded to steal second base to get into scoring position. Two batters later, Nikki Lee DiSalvio singled to left to score Macaluso and give Rochester an early 1-0 advantage.
St. Lawrence threatened in the top of the second, putting runners on first and second with two outs. The Saints' Sandy Gates ripped a ground ball to right field but was thrown out at first by Kim Grimes, robbing the visitors of a run and leaving two runners stranded.
The Rochester offense came alive in the second inning. Erin Clark led off with a solo homerun. MC Wagner and Natalee Sassaman followed were walked and hit by a pitch, respectively. Cara Celorio reached on a throwing error, scoring Wagner and moving Sassaman to third in the process. Macaluso hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Sassaman. After a Katie McLean walk, Lee DiSalvio picked up another RBI, doubling to right-center and moving the Rochester lead to 5-0.
The Saints got on the board in the top of the fourth inning after Molly Swan sent the first pitch over the leftfield fence. Despite giving up two more hits in the inning, Rochester pitcher Sara Hutchinson struck out the side to get out of the jam.
The Yellowjackets responded with a pair of homeruns in the bottom of the fourth. Kim Grimes and Clark both hit two-run homeruns to push the lead to 13-1. Hutchinson tossed a scoreless fifth to earn the win and improve to 14-6 on the season. The sophomore gave up five hits while striking out five.
Juliana Nicholson, Rochester's lone senior, celebrated senior day by scoring two runs on 1-for-2 hitting. St. Lawrence was paced by Swan's RBI and Chelsea Cavellier's 2-for-3 effort.
Game two recap: The offensive success transitioned into game two for Rochester as the Yellowjackets scored six runs in the first inning and cruised to an 11-0 win. Madeline Skellie tossed a one-hitter over five scoreless innings to improve to 8-5 on the season.
Lindsay Macaluso again reached base in the leadoff spot and stole second base to open the game. Macaluso advanced to third after Katie McLean legged out an infield single. Both runners advanced moments later on an illegal pitch. After Lee DiSalvio singled down the left field line, Kim Grimes drove in both runners with a double to center field. Nicholson advanced Grimes to third after grounding out to the pitcher, and Grimes later scored on a wild pitch. After Clark earned a walk, MC Wagner doubled to left-center. Skellie walked to load the bases for Cara Celorio. Celorio picked up an RBI with a base on balls. After a St. Lawrence pitching change, all three runners advanced on a passed ball. The Saints' Rachel Duffany retired the next two batters. Rochester tallied six runs on four hits but stranded two.
After a scoreless second, Rochester tacked on five more runs in the bottom of the third to complete the scoring. Celorio, Macaluso, McLean, and Grimes picked up RBI's in the inning.
Skellie's no-hitter was broken up with one out in the top of the fifth inning. Jess Manderfield singled to right field, the only hit for the visitors in game two of the doubleheader. After Sandy Gates reached on an error, Skellie induced Jennifer Girard to ground out to shortstop, ending the game. The freshman faced just 18 batters, fanning one while earning the shutout.
Grimes led the Rochester offense with three runs batted in and one run scored. Clark hit 1.000 for the second consecutive game, this time finishing 2-for-2 with a pair of runs scored.
Manderfield finished 1-for-2 to lead the Saints.
Rochester plays host to RPI in a Liberty League doubleheader tomorrow. First pitch is set for 1:00 pm.
