TUCSON, AZ – Rochester's offense began to come around in the last couple of games in the Leadoff Classic. The Yellowjackets lost twice on  Sunday, but they had a couple of big innings between the two games. That's a good sign as the team readies itself for games in Maryland this coming weekend. Rochester lost, 14-6, to Virginia Wesleyan, and 5-4 to Pacific University of Oregon.
 
In the second game on Saturday, a run-rule 16-1 loss to No. 11 Christopher Newport, Gianna Melillo launched the first home run of the spring for UR.
 
On Sunday, it became more promising as Rochester erupted for six runs in the top of the second to take a 6-1 lead on the defending national champions. UR, which had been victimized in a couple of the Far West games by defensive miscues, too full advantage of errors by the champs.
 
VWU committed four errors in the inning and Rochester had three hits – a single by Jocelynn Blackshear, an RBI single by Anne Marie Cortes, and a two-run triple by Harleigh Kaczegowicz.
 
In the bottom of the second inning and then in the third, Rochester errors led to 11 unearned runs and VWU rode that to a 14-6 victory.
 
UR was edged out of its first victory of the season in its final game. Pacific University posted a 5-4 win. UR scored three times in the first after Pacific scored once in the top of the inning. Kaczegowicz hit a solo home run with one down to tie it. Alexis Pope and Lydia Petricca drew walks. After Blackshear popped out, Melillo and Cortes followed with RBI singled. Kaczegowicz built the lead to 4-1 in the second with an RBI single.
 
The Boxers fought back, tying the score in the late innings and then taking a 5-4 lead before Rochester came to bat in the seventh.
 
Petricca ripped a double and advanced to third after an error by the Pacific third baseman. Michaela Farmer went in to run for her. Blackshear struck out and Melillo popped to third. Cortes was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. Jessica Conforti walked to load the bases. Pacific escaped when pinch-hitter Bailyn Piecewicz grounded to first.

When the tournament concluded, freshman pitcher Hannah Leahy was named to the All-Tournament Team.