HENRIETTA, NY – University of Rochester softball bounced back from a game-one defeat to take game two and split its conference-opening doubleheader against the RIT Tigers on Sunday afternoon at the RIT Softball Complex. The 'Jackets fell to the Tigers in extra innings, 1-0, in game one, before pounding out 14 runs on 14 hits to defeat RIT in a run-rule-shortened five innings in game two.
 
With the split, the Yellowjackets now sit at 12-6 (1-1 LL) on the season, while the Tigers move to 6-9-1 (1-1 LL) on the year.
 
GAME ONE: RIT 1, Rochester 0 (8 inn.)
Both starters, Molly Broccolo for UR and Jessica Majot for RIT, worked around baserunners in the first two frames, keeping both sides scoreless before settling in in the circle.
 
Majot and Broccolo each set down the side in order in the third, and while Broccolo allowed a one-out single in the bottom of the fourth, UR turned two on Kathryn Baretela's lineout to second to keep the game scoreless through four.
 
The Yellowjackets would get their leadoff runner aboard in the top of the fifth, as Julianna Lyons was hit by a pitch. Katelyn Wade pinch ran for Lyons, and while Wade stole second and took third on Hunter Gilbreath's sacrifice bunt, Majot retired the next two 'Jackets via a popout and groundout to strand the runner at third base.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, RIT would threaten, loading the bases on three-straight singles with nobody out, but Broccolo again escaped unscathed. UR turned its second double play of the afternoon, this time a 6-2-3 DP, on Emma Merkley's groundball, and Broccolo then got Maddy Cook to ground out to second, keeping RIT off the scoreboard.
 
But after Rochester left runners in scoring position in both the top of the seventh and eighth innings, the Tigers would take advantage of an error to walk things off in extras in the bottom of the eighth.
 
Bailey Kehl led off the inning with a single to center, and Elise Guth followed with a sacrifice bunt, reaching second on Lyons' fielding error. Lillian Rienstra then moved the game-winning run to third with another sacrifice bunt. And after UR intentionally walked the bases loaded to put a force on any base, Cook stroked a single up the middle, scoring Kehl to give the Tigers the 1-0 victory.
 
Broccolo (5-3) took the loss for UR, allowing one unearned run on eight hits, walking two and striking out six over 7.1 innings pitched. Majot (4-0) picked up the win for RIT, holding the Yellowjackets to just three hits over eight innings pitched, walking and striking out three.
 
GAME TWO: Rochester 14, RIT 0 (5 inn.)
After being held to just three hits in game one, the Yellowjackets' offense broke through early and often against the Tigers, scoring runs in all five innings against RIT.
 
Katie Schneider struck out the leadoff batter, but an infield single and a pair of walks loaded the bases for Mason, who drew another walk to bring home the game's first run. Ilana Weiss then roped a single to center, bringing home another run to give Rochester a 2-0 lead headed to the bottom of the first.
 
Lauren Keys got the start for UR, and a week after pitching a combining no-hitter against SUNY Brockport, picked up right where she left off, setting down the first nine Tigers she faced.
 
In the top of the second, the Yellowjackets tacked on three more runs, extending their lead to 5-0. Loren Castilloux led off the inning with a single, advancing to second on Bailey Nicholoff's sacrifice bunt. Riley Laygo then smacked a double to center, scoring Castilloux to make it 3-0, and after Keiper drew a one-out walk, Jenna Gorecki cleared the bases with a two-run double, making it a 5-0 UR lead.
 
In the top of the third, Rochester added another run, with back-to-back singles from Weiss and Jensen Sminchak to lead off the frame. A sacrifice bunt from Castilloux moved the runners up to second and third before a wild pitch brought Weiss home to make it a six-run Rochester advantage.
 
RIT made a pitching change to start the fourth, bringing in Lexi Pieri to relieve Schneider, but Rochester's offense kept on rolling, tacking on another run on Hannah Keiper's sacrifice fly to take a 7-0 lead.
 
The Tigers would get their first hit and baserunner against Keys in the bottom of the frame, as Guth drew a leadoff walk and moved to third on Cook's two-out single, but Keys struck out Erin Ozminkowski to end the threat, keeping RIT off the scoreboard.
 
The Yellowjackets then broke the game open in the top of the fifth, scoring seven runs on five hits and an RIT error. Three-straight hits from Sminchak, Castilloux and Nicholoff to open the frame made it an 8-0 lead, while Laygo's RBI groundout scored Castilloux to bring the lead out to double digits.
 
Up next, Keiper drew a hit-by-pitch and Gorecki beat out an infield single to score another run before Rochester loaded the bases for Marie Kinchington, who drew another walk, the 'Jackets' fifth of the game, to bring home another and make it an 11-0 lead. Sminchak followed with another bases-loaded walk to make it 12-0, before a throwing error and hit-by-pitch brought home two more to extend the Yellowjackets' lead to 14-0.
 
Maddie White then finished things off for Rochester in the bottom of the frame making quick work of the Tigers with a strikeout and two groundouts to wrap up the 14-0, run-rule-shortened victory.
 
Keys (6-1) earned the win, allowing one hit, walking one and striking out five over 4.0 innings pitched, while Schneider (1-3) took the loss for RIT, allowing six runs on seven hits over three innings pitched.
 
At the plate, Rochester tallied 14 runs on 14 hits, including three extra-base hits, while adding six stolen bases on the basepaths. Laygo tallied a team-high three hits, going 3-for-4 with a double, three stolen bases, three runs scored and two RBI, while five other 'Jackets tallied multiple hits and four more scored multiple runs.
 
Gorecki led UR with three RBI, going 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and three RBI, while Weiss and Castilloux each went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Castilloux also added a double to her line.
 
Rochester next opens an eight-game homestand, beginning with a doubleheader against Fredonia on Tuesday, April 9 at 3:00 p.m. at Southside Field.