Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
ALBANY, NY – Amanda Blake pitched a complete game and the Union softball team scored four times in the top of the fourth inning to hold on and defeat the University of Rochester 6-4 in the elimination game of the Liberty League Tournament. This was the second straight league championship for Union.
Blake gave up four unearned runs, one walk, and struck out one to earn the win.
Rachel Noall was 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, a run scored, and two RBIs.
Samantha Chevalier went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Union got on the board first in the top of the second on Noall's two run double. Rochester would answer back in the bottom of the third with three runs. Liz Slupinski drove in two with a two run single up the middle and Lindsay Macaluso singled to right center to bring in a run and put the Yellowjackets up 3-2.
The Dutchwomen would take the lead for good in the fourth.
Alyssa Wolejko's sacrifice fly scored
Lauren Hoffman. Chevalier would follow that with a single to right center that brought in Noall. Calle Heywood reached first on an error by Rochester first baseman M.C. Wagner that scored Chevalier and
Amanda Blake to put Union up 6-3.
Rochester would add one more run in the bottom of the fourth to get within two. Blake shut them down from there as she went three scoreless innings. The Yellowjackets would threaten in the bottom of the seventh. Meghan Hennessy led off with a single up the middle. Cara Celorio flied out to right and Natalie Sassaman reached on an error by Blake moving Hennessy to second. Liz Slupinski singled to right to load the bases. Macaluso then reached on a fielder's choice advancing both Kristen Baldino (who pinch ran for Slupinski) and Sassaman but Hennessy was thrown out at home for the second out Erin Clark then lined out to Chevalier to end the game.
Maddie Skellie pitched a complete game five hitter and struck out six to lead the University of Rochester to a 5-4 win over Union College in the first game of the Liberty League Softball Championship Round Sunday at Cathy Cummings Haker Field at the Plumeri Sports Complex. The Yellowjackets improve to 26-14 and Union fell to 18-23. The Yellowjackets stayed alive in the double elimination tournament and thus forced a winner-take-all title game at approximately 12 p.m. Meghan Hennessy had four hits and Natalie Sassaman had two hits and an RBI triple in a three run second inning.
Carson Mehl had an RBI double for the Dutchwomen.
The Yellowjackets got on the board in the bottom of the first. Meghan Hennessy reached on an infield single. A failed bunt attempt produced a pop up to third, Natalie Sassaman singled down the left field line to send Hennessy to third. Liz Slupinski hit a grounder that forced Sassaman at second but an infield throwing error scored Hennessy. Union quickly took the lead with four in the top of the second. Wolejko singled up the middle, and
Callee Heywood reached on a fielder's choice while Wolejko was safe at second on a throwing error. After
Nina Cervini walked,
Becky Gronczniak had a sacrifice fly to left to score Wolejko.
Carson Mehl doubled in a run and
Lauren Hoffman drove in two with a double to left center for the 4-1 lead.
Back came Rochester, for a 5-4 lead after two. Erin Clark doubled and was bunted over to third. Sam Melvin squeezed her home for the second out but it was now 4-2. Nicole Goldman walked and Meghan Hennessy singled but Goldman scored on an error. Carah Cebrio tripled to right with an RBI and
Amanda Blake came in to pitch. Sassaman tripled home Cebrio for the final run of the inning and the 5-4 advantage.
Skelie and Blake quieted down the offenses after the second. Skellie retired nine straight at one point and allowed just one hit from the third through sixth. Blake gave up three singles from the third through the sixth. With one on and one out in the seventh, Skellie struck out the final two batters to improve to 15-7.
Mehl, Noall,
Nina Cervini, and Blake were all named to the All-Tournament Team for Union. The Dutchwomen complete their season with a record 19-23. Rochester finishes at 26-15.
