SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Rochester's bats broke out in timely fashion in game two as the Yellowjackets split a Liberty League softball doubleheader at Skidmore College on Saturday afternoon. UR won t nitecap, 5-3, after Skidmore rallied to win the opener, 7-6. Rochester is 8-13 overall, 1-3 in the Liberty League. Skidmore, which earned its second split of the weekend, is 14-12 overall, 2-4 in league play.
 
Marissa Russo was 2-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs. Alexis Pope and Harleigh Kaczegowicz were 2-3 and each woman crossed the plate once. Sammi Re had one hit and one run scored. Gianna Melillo was 1-3 as was Lydia Petricca.
 
Elizabeth Bourne picked up the victory. She went the distance, allowing nine hits in seven innings, three earned runs, and did not walk anyone.
 
Skidmore's Amanda Carilli gave up nine hits in seven innings, five earned runs, walked two, and fanned three. Carilli pitched both ends of the doubleheader for SC. She allowed seven hits, six runs (four earned), walked two, and whiffed three in game one.
 
Russo, Melillo, and Hannah Leahy had two hits apiece in the opener. Melillo and Leahy knocked in two runs. Russo got her second home run of the year. In six innings, Leahy allowed 13 hits, seven earned runs, walked three, and struck out six.
 
Game One:
Melillo singled home two runs in the top of the first, but Skidmore hit the first of its two home runs when Carli Fishkin connected in the bottom half.
 
Russo's home run in the third put Rochester back in front, 3-2. SC went back in front on Fishkin's bases-loaded single in the fourth that put the hosts up, 4-3.
 
It was Rochester's turn in the sixth. Melillo doubled to left center with one out and Jessica Conforti ran for her. After a flyout, Kaczegowicz walked. Leahy helped her own cause, ripping a double to centerfield. That put UR back in front, 5-4.
 
Skidmore scored three in its half of the sixth. A single and a home run tied it. Fishkin singled (she was 3-4), moved up on a wild pitch, and scored on Emily Popp's single.
 
UR got one back in the seventh. Russo doubled and was bunted to third. Jocelynn Blackshear popped up, but Russo was able to tag and score. Pope reached on an error, but Melillo grounded out to end it.
 
Game Two:
With the score tied at 1-1 (Pope doubled in the first, Melillo singled, and both players executed a double steal with Pope scoring) Skidmore strung together three singles in the second), Russo homered to left center for a 2-1 lead through three.
 
In the fifth, Kaczegowicz doubled and took third on Re's bunt hit. Russo doubled home both women. She moved to third with two down on a tapper in front of the plate by Anne Marie Cortes for out number two. Pope walked and UR completed another double steal with Russo scoring for a 5-1 edge.
 
Skidmore made it close with a longball. With a runner aboard after two were out in the sixth, Jill Strileckis homered to left center. UR avoided further damage and Bourne closed the door in the seventh, retiring the top of the order 1-2-3.