University of Rochester softball kept on rolling with a doubleheader sweep of Alfred University on Tuesday afternoon, extending its win streak to 13 games with a pair of run-rule-shortened victories. Rochester topped the Saxons in game one, 10-2, in a run-rule-shortened six innings, and then needed one inning less in game two, defeating Alfred, 11-3, in a run-rule-shortened five innings. With the sweep, the Yellowjackets move to 19-5 on the season, while the Saxons drop to 12-12 on the year.
 
Game 1: Rochester 10, Alfred 2 (6 inn.)
Molly Broccolo worked around a one-out single, and the Yellowjackets would score first just three batters into the bottom of the frame. After Loretta Sorochty retired the leadoff batter, Riley Laygo smoked a leadoff triple to center, and Jensen Sminchak followed with an RBI single to right, giving the 'Jackets a 1-0 lead. A batter later, Marie Kinchington made it 3-0, blasting a two-run shot to left center for her seventh home run of the year.
 
Alfred would get one back in the top of the second, taking advantage of a URochester fielding error to plate a run, as Ally Boulger scored as Brielle Wark was caught trying to steal second. But Broccolo prevented any further damage, and then needed just eight pitches to work a 1-2-3 third before Rochester added to its lead.
 
Laygo blasted Sorochty's 1-1 pitch down the left-field line for a solo home run to give Rochester a 4-1 lead, and quickly the Saxons made a pitching change, bringing in Ava Galvan in relief of Sorochty.
 
But the 'Jackets kept the runs coming, with a walk and a stolen base for Sminchak before Julianna Lyons brought the senior home, extending the 'Jackets' lead to 5-1. Then, after another walk and a passed ball, Ilana Weiss blooped a two-run single to center to score two more and make it a 7-1 Rochester advantage.
 
The Saxons looked to respond in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with just one out on a pair of walks and a fielder's choice, but Broccolo escaped the jam unscathed, striking out Paris Guzman and getting Destiny Avila to ground out to end the threat.
 
Maddie White relieved Broccolo in the circle to start the fifth, and while Kendall Steward's RBI double cut the 'Jackets' lead to 7-2, URochester would get the run back in the bottom of the frame.
 
Rowan Mulholland led off the inning with a double down the line, and quickly came around to score on Katelyn Wade's RBI single. Then, after Madi Paige's sacrifice bunt moved Wade to second, Savanna Hernandez laced a single through the right side to score Wade, giving URochester a 9-2 lead.
 
And after White pitched a 1-2-3 sixth, the 'Jackets would finish off the run-rule victory in the sixth. Needing just one run to close the game out, Alfred brought in Taylor Carlson to pitch, but a single, a fielder's choice and a walk loaded the bases and put the game-ending run on third base.
 
Carlson struck out Wade to put two outs on the board, but Paige smacked a single to left center, scoring Sminchak to give the Yellowjackets a 10-2, run-rule-shortened victory.
 
Broccolo (9-4) earned the win, allowing an unearned run on three hits, walking and striking out two over 4.0 innings pitched. White allowed just one run on one hit over 2.0 innings of relief, striking out one.
 
For Alfred, Sorochty (1-3) took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits over 2.0 innings pitched.
 
Laygo led the 'Jackets at the plate, falling a double short of the cycle with her 3-for-4 day. Sminchak also had three hits and added a team-high three runs scored, while Kinchington and Weiss each drove in a pair.
 
Game 2: Rochester 11, Alfred 3 (5 inn.)
Game two would start much like game one, with Broccolo stranding a leadoff baserunner at third base in the top of the first, before the Yellowjackets struck first in the bottom of the frame.
 
Moved up to the lead-off spot, Hernandez drew a five-pitch walk to lead off the first, took second on a wild pitch and third on Laygo's lineout to right, before Sminchak brought home the game's first run with a sacrifice fly to center. Two more five-pitch walks later, Mulholland's RBI single brought home another run, while after a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, Wade made it 3-0 with another RBI single.
 
Following another quick frame from Broccolo in the circle, Rochester would tack on another on Laygo's RBI single in the bottom of the second, but despite loading the bases, Steward got out of the inning without allowing another run.
 
And after Gavlan, who again came on in relief for Alfred, stranded two more Yellowjacket baserunners in the bottom of the third, the Saxons would pull within a run in the top of the fourth.
 
Bella Mistretta, Molly Whitmyer and Stewart hit back-to-back-to-back singles to lead off the inning, bringing the Saxons' first run of the game home. Boulger's sacrifice bunt then moved the runners up to second and third, and then a batter later, Taylor Carlson doubled just out of the reach of Wade in left, bringing two more runs home to cut URochester's lead to 4-3.
 
However, the 'Jackets would get two of the three runs back in Mulholland's two-run single in the bottom of the fourth, and after White stranded the bases loaded in the top of the fifth, the 'Jackets would put up another crooked number in the bottom of the inning to finish off the win.
 
Rochester got back on the board quickly, as Ally Kim walked to lead off the frame, and Hernandez followed with a double to right center to make it 7-3 'Jackets. A batter later, Sminchak singled to center to put runners at the corners, and after the senior stole second, Lyons brought both runs home with a two-run single up the middle.
 
Alfred countered with a pitching change, bringing Steward back in for Galvan, who walked Kinchington on five pitches to put the game-ending run on base. Rochester brought in Maithili Shah to pinch-run for Kinchington, and after Steward retired the next batter to put two outs on the board, Wade dropped in an RBI single to center, putting the 'Jackets up seven, 10-3.
 
Paige then stepped to the plate with a chance to end game two, just like she did in game one, and the sophomore did exactly that, beating out an infield single to short to score Shah, and give the 'Jackets an 11-3, run-rule-shortened victory.
 
Broccolo (10-4) again earned the win, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out three over 4.0 innings pitched.
 
Steward (5-7) took the loss for Alfred, allowing five runs on six hits over 2.1 innings pitched.
 
Mulholland and Wade each turned in two-hit days, with Mulholland going 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Wade went 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI. Lyons scored a team-high three runs, while Hernandez, Kim and Sminchak each scored two.
 
The Yellowjackets will resume Liberty League play on Friday, April 17, when they open a weekend road trip in Saratoga Springs, NY, with a doubleheader against Skidmore College. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.