REDLANDS, CA – Rochester's bats broke out in a big way for the first win of the season for the Yellowjackets. UR collected 11 hits in an 11-8 victory over Carnegie Mellon University in the second half of a doubleheader here. Both teams were supposed to play the University of the Redlands in a doubleheader on Sunday and Monday (CMU Sunday, UR Monday). Redlands had a series of injuries and had to call off its games on the two days. UR and CMU agreed to play each other – at Redlands. The Tartans hit as the home team in the first game, the Yellowjackets batted last in the nightcap.
 
Game One:
Carnegie Mellon 9, Rochester 1:
Amanda Smith tossed a three hitter with seven strikeouts as Carnegie Mellon defeated Rochester in a neutral site game at the University of the Redlands. Carnegie strung together five consecutive singles with one out in the fourth inning to take a 3-0 lead. Lauren Keys eventually worked out of trouble, giving up a bases loaded sac fly to Summer Faille for the third run and retiring Audrey Peterson on a comebacker to end the inning.
 
The Yellowjackets, held to one hit over the first three innings (a pop fly double lost in the sun off the bat of Hannah Keiper) got a run back in the top of the fourth. Ally Kim tripled to the base of the right field wall. After an infield pop, Bryce West was hit by a pitch and Kristin Myers ran for her. UR executed a double steal – with Kim rushing home and sliding under the tag as soon as the throw went through. The throw home did get past the catcher as Kim scored and Myers raced to third. Smith responded with a strikeout and a flyball to right field to end the inning.
 
In the fourth inning, Carnegie scored five runs on four hits, two walks, and an HBP to extend the lead to 8-1. They clinched the mercy rule victory with a run in the fifth on three singles.
 
Game Two:
Rochester 11, Carnegie Mellon 8:
It sounds peculiar in a game with 10 combined errors, but a terrific defensive play by Rochester in the top of the seventh inning was the defining moment of the win.
 
Carnegie loaded the bases in the seventh on two hits and a walk with one down. Emily Finger hit a sinking line drive towards second base. Kim dove, caught the ball, and slapped second base before Faille could scramble back. That completed the unassisted double play and wrapped up the victory.
 
Both teams scored one unearned run in the first. In the second inning, a walk and a single loaded the bases with two outs. Emily Song chopped the ball up the middle Kim reached it and tossed it to second for the force. The ball was dropped to load the bases. From there, a walk and a single led to four more unearned runs (5-1).
 
In the first two innings, Rochester did not have a base hit. The only baserunner was Kim who reached on an error in the first, stole second, then scored after two groundouts. In the third inning, the Yellowjackets scored eight runs on eight hits (all singles), three errors, and a passed ball. Bailey Nicholoff and Allison Beckwith had two-run singles in the inning. Rochester sent 13 hitters to the plate and chased starter Amanda Schwartz. Maya Goodwin relieved kept the Yellowjackets in check in the later innings (4 IP, 4 hits, 1 walk, two earned runs, 1  HBP).
 
CMU chased Rochester starter Emily Sharlach with two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth. She was relieved by first-year Christin Napierkowski (2.2 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 1 K). In the Rochester sixth, Kim singles and stole second. Nicholoff singled her to third, then quickly stole second. Keiper reached on an error that scored Kim. Keiper was thrown out trying to steal and Nicholoff scored on the throw to second.
 
Sharlach got the win for UR (4.1 IP, 7 hits, 8 runs, 4 earned runs, 4 walks, 1 K). Carnegie Mellon is 4-3. Rochester is 1-5.