SCHENECTADY, NY -- Union College scored four runs in the top of the seventh and
Allyson Staats had two hits and three innings of no hit relief in a 6-2 softball victory over SUNY Plattsburgh at Alexander Field Sunday afternoon. The Dutchwomen lost earlier in the day to Ithaca, 7-1. Union is now 16-21 on the season.
Plattsburgh now stands 22-14 including a 6-4 loss earlier in the day at Union to Ithaca (now 22-14).
In Union's second game, the Dutchwomen were the "visiting team" to the Cardinals, batting in the top of the inning. With the contest tied at 2-2,
Lindsay Cohen singled to open the seventh.
Molly O'Brien reached on a throwing error and and advanced to second while Cohen went to third. Kristen Schmidt reached on an RBI fielder's choice as Cohen scored to beat a throw to the plate. After a lineout double play to the pitcher and then to first and a walk to Staats,
Aimee Palleschi singled in O'Brien and both Staats and O'Brien scored on the two out single to center by
Alyssa Wolejko. Union scored two in the first inning on an outfield erro and an RBI single by
Samantha Chevalier.
Staats pitched three perfect innings, striking out three, for her fifth victory. Union had seven hits off two Cardinals' pitchers and Kristin Fisher took the loss with six unearned runs and seven hits in six 2/3 innings. Brianna Clarke and Samantha Capobianco had two hits each and Emily McDonagh had two RBIs coming on a two out single in the third that tied the game at 2-2.
The opener for Union featured a pitcher's duel between Staats and Ithaca's Sam Bender. It was 1-0 Ithaca through five with an unearned run coming on an RBI double by Francesca Busa. The Bombers made it 3-0 in the sixth with an RBI double by Jen Biondi and an RBI single by Rachel Dell'Orto. But in the seventh, the Bombers sent eight batters to the plate in the four run inning. Dell'Orto and Powers had big RBI hits in that inning. Union had an RBI double by Cohen in the bottom of the seventh, the third straight hit to start the inning, but Bender got a fielder's choice and a ground out to end it.
Chevalier had two of Union's six hits, as Bender earned her 11th victory. Dell'Orto, Busa and Sydney Folk had two each of the 10 Bombers' hits and Dell'Orto had two RBIs for the guests.
Union has a non-league make up doubleheader Tuesday at Utica, then opens Liberty League Tournament play vs. #1 seed and host Rochester Friday.
