SCHENECTADY, NY – Rochester boosted its softball record to 6-0 in the Liberty League, 8-4 overall, with a doubleheader sweep at Union College's Alexander Field on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Yellowjackets won the opener, 3-0, riding a strong pitching performance from Emily Sharlach and some late game hitting heroics. In game two, the Yellowjackets took advantage of 10 hits, seven walks, and a couple of Dutchwomen errors to post a 12-0 victory which was shortened by the mercy rule.
 
Rochester and Union will hook up again on Sunday, this time at Southside Field. Games are set for 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm. Union is 2-2 overall. Skidmore defeated St. Lawrence in the first game of a DH in Liberty League play on Saturday.
 
UR had offensive support throughout the lineup over the twinbill. Marissa Russo hit a solo home run in the fifth inning of game one and singled home another run in the sixth. In game two, Sammi Re was 4-4, scored three runs, and knocked in three. Alexis Pope was 3-4 with four RBIs. Hunter Galbreth had two hits and scored twice. Russo walked twice and scored both times

 
Game One: Sharlach was strong throughout in picking up her fifth win of the season. She struck out 11, gave up two hits, and one walk. Union picked up leadoff singles in the first and second innings. The only other baserunner for the Dutchwomen after that came from a walk – and she nearly scored to break a 0-0 tie.
 
For the Dutchwomen, Koehler allowed six hits and two walks with one strikeout. She allowed three earned runs – the first coming on the Russo HR in the fifth – and two more in the sixth from a bases loaded walk (to Madi Turner) and a single to center by Russo.
 
Hannah Keiper and Russo had two hits. In the third, Keiper walked with two down. Toni Anne Hahn laced a double to center. Union threw out Keiper at the plate (8-6-2) to end the inning.
 
UR went down in order in the fourth, but Russo pulled a home run down the left field line to put Rochester up, 1-0, in the fifth. Union threatened to tie the score in the fifth. Saunders walked and Podlaski dropped a sac bunt down the third base line. Alex Pope threw her out, but Saunders kept running and beat the relay across the field to reach third. Sharlach got out of it, inducing a popup to Hahn at short and a groundout to Pope at third.
 
The Yellowjackets added two important runs in the sixth. Keiper singled up the middle and Loren Castillo ran for her. Hahn bunted the runner over. Pope and Gilbreth singled to load the bases. Kohler moved to center in a lineup switch with Saunders moving to right and Raeter coming in to pitch. She walked Turner to force in a run, then gave up a single to Russo for a 3-0 lead. She escaped further damage with a strikeout and a flyout.
 
Game Two: Rochester took command in the first inning by scoring four runs. The Yellowjackets scored in each of the first four innings. With one down, Re singled and stole second. Keiper walked. Hahn doubled down the right field line to score Re. Pope tripled to left with both runners scoring. Pope scored on a wild pitch.
 
Russo walked in the second and stole second. Re bunted for a hit, moving Russo to third. Keiper's groundout brought Russo home and two batters later, Pope's grounder was booted, scoring the sixth run. Re had a two-run single to highlight a four-run third. She drove in her fourth run of the game in the fourth with a single to shortstop that scored Turner.
 
Hannah Leahy picked up the win by throwing three innings of three-hit ball with no walks and four strikeouts. Abbie Biggs relieved to start the fourth. She yielded a leadoff double, then set down six straight to end it. Leahy's win was her first this season (1-2).