KISSIMMEE, FL – University of Rochester softball fell twice on their second day at The Spring Games, dropping a one-run affair against The College of Saint Benedict, 1-0, at Fortune Road Field 1, before falling to Hiram College, 6-1.
 
With the two losses, the 21st-ranked Yellowjackets fall to 3-5 on the year, while St. Benedict moves to 3-1 and Hiram to 2-2 on the year.
 
GAME ONE: Saint Benedict 1, #21 Rochester 0
After UR went in order in the top of the first, the Bennies threatened, but would not score against Molly Broccolo, as the first-year got a pair of fielder's choices, before Megan Erickson grounded out to end the frame.
 
Neither team would get much going in the second or third, as Rochester left a runner on second after a leadoff walk in the second, and Broccolo stranded a pair, striking Tiffany Thompson out swinging to work around a pair of hits in the bottom of the inning.
 
But after the 'Jackets again went 1-2-3 to start the fourth, Saint Benedict scratched a run across to take the lead. Erickson led off the inning with a single and was pinch-ran for by Olivia Van Hout. Maddie Brey then reached on a fielder's choice to put two on with nobody out, but Broccolo got another fielder's choice, this time cutting Van Hout down at third, for the first out of the third.
 
With two on and one out, Tori Harren grounded out to move the runners into scoring position, but with UR on the verge of getting out of the inning, a defensive miscut on Megan Rasmussen's grounder gave Saint Benedict a 1-0 lead.
 
And that would be all the Bennies needed, with Ellie Peterson holding Rochester to just two hits the rest of the way.
 
Loren Castilloux picked up a two-single in the fifth but would be left stranded, while UR would threaten with two on and nobody out in the sixth, but Peterson got a strikeout, fielder's choice and popup to end the threat, and eventually finish off the 1-0 victory for the Bennies.
 
Broccolo (3-2) took the loss for Rochester, allowing just one, unearned run on three hits, striking out one over 6.0 innings pitched. Peterson (2-0) earned the win for Saint Benedict, striking out six over a complete-game shutout, holding UR to just three hits.
 
GAME TWO: Hiram 6, #21 Rochester 1
Emily Sharlach got the start and got off to a strong start in game two, striking out a pair in a 1-2-3 top of the first.
 
But after a double play helped the Terriers escape any damage in the bottom of the frame, Hiram strung together three runs on four hits to take the lead.
 
Giselle Bahena drew a hit-by-pitch to lead off the second, and Darian Kanno and Abriana Schwartz followed with a pair of singles to load the bases.
 
Sharlach got Angel Santellan to fly out to center, but Danielle Robles stroked a single to center to give the Terriers the lead, and a batter later, Fayth Kawamura smashed a two-run double down the left-field line to make it 3-0 Hiram.
 
Jensen Sminchak picked up the Yellowjackets' first hit on the game in the bottom of the second, but after she was stranded on second, the Terriers extended their lead in the top of the third.
 
A double steal with Bahena on first and Viviana Macias on third extended Hiram's lead to 4-1, before Schwartz roped a double into center, scoring Bahena to make it 5-1.
 
The Yellowjackets would get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third, as Jenna Gorecki's infield single scored Alexis Klee from third following a leadoff walk, but with two outs, Kanno got Maddie Turner to fly out to prevent any more damage, and Hiram quickly answered in the top of the fourth.
 
The Terriers would add one more in the top of the fourth on Victoria Garcia's RBI single to right, scoring Kawamura from second, extending their lead to 6-1.
 
And while Maddie White kept Hiram's bats at bay the rest of the way, limiting the Terriers to just one hit over the final three frames, Kanno matched her out of the 'pen, holding UR to just one hit over her 4.2 innings pitched to seal the win.
 
Sharlach (0-1) took the loss for Rochester, allowing three runs on four hits, striking out two over 2.0 innings pitched. White allowed just one run on three hits over 4.1 innings of relief, while Kanno (1-0) earned the win for the Terriers.
 
Gorecki led UR at the plate, going 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Hannah Keiper drew a pair of walks.
 
Following a day off, Rochester will look to bounce back when it faces Marian University and Kenyon College at The Spring Games on Thursday, March 9, beginning at 9:00 a.m.