ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The University of Rochester swept a softball doubleheader against Union College on Sunday afternoon. Rochester took advantage of 11 hits, five walks, and a hit batsman to post a 13-0 victory in five innings in the opener. The Yellowjackets needed a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth to rally past the Dutchwomen, 6-5. With the two wins, Rochester improved to 17-11 overall, 3-5 in the Liberty League. Union is 4-20 overall, 0-8 in league play.
Eleni Wechsler picked up the game one victory with a one hitter. She struck out four and walked two, facing only three batters over the minimum. She helped her own cause by drawing two walks and scoring two runs. In game two, she relieved in the top of the seventh with one out and the tying run on base.
Elizabeth Bourne, the second Rochester pitcher in the nightcap, got the victory in relief. In 2.1 innings, she allowed three hits and one unearned run. That run put the Dutchwomen ahead in the top of the sixth before Rochester rallied for to take the lead in its half. Rochester jumped in front, 3-0, in the bottom of the first. Wechsler singled in the first run and Courtney Semkewyc singled for two more. Semkewyc finished the afternoon with seven RBIs. She was 2-3 in the opener including a grand slam home run that stretched the UR lead to 9-0 after two.
Kaczegowicz had six hits in the two wins. Semkewyc drove in five runs and Lydia Petricca drove in four more to spark the attack. Harleigh Kaczegowicz was 3-4 with one run scored. Rachael Pletz had an RBI double in the first inning (when UR took a 4-0 lead). Jocelynn Blackshear had two hits. The Yellowjackets scored in each of the four innings they came to bat. Four straight hits and a sac fly from Jessica Conforti made it 4-0. Dolinko was relieved by Brown to start the second. Petricca's bases-loaded groundout increased the lead to five. After a hit by a pitch, Semkewyc homered over the left field fence. Petricca's three-run home run against Dolinki in the third made it 12-0.
Kaczegowicz had three more hits in the second game, none bigger than her sixth-inning double that plated the tying and eventual game winning runs in the sixth inning. Wechsler singled for a 1-0 lead. Petricca reached on an error which sent Wechsler to third. Petricca stole second and Semkewyc's single to center made it 3-0. The Dutchwomen scored two – both unearned – on a wild sequence in the top of the second.
Nikki Ditizio singled.
Kim Puzo hit a grounder to Wechsler at second. She flipped the ball to Conforti for the force, but the ball was dropped. Dolinko singled to load the bases.
With one out,
Brianna Godlewski grounded to short. Conforti threw home, but the throw sailed wild allowing Ditizio to score. Godlewski rounded first. Kaczegowicz tried to pick her off and the Yellowjackets had to dive to keep the ball from going into right field. That allowed Puzo to score the second run. Dolinko got trapped in a rundown between third and second and was tagged out. Rochester nibbled for another run in the third. Pletz homered down the left field line. Union tied the score in the fifth. Voellmn singled and
Devon Hennel came in to run. Godlewski homered down the left field line on a full count. Malecki was relieved by Bourne. In four innings, Malecki gave up four hits, four runs (two earned), walked one, and fanned one.
Union hit a pair of two-out singles off Bourne, but she escaped the inning with a groundout by Ditizio. The Dutchwomen scored an unearned run in the sixth for their first lead of the day, 5-4. Puzo doubled to left center and
Rebecca Kaufman came in to run. Dolinko grounded out, moving Kaufman to third with one down. Voellm's infield grounder was booted as Kaufman scored the go-ahead run. Blackshear singled to lead off the UR sixth. Claire Ruben came on to run. Bourne bunted Ruben to second and Conforti drew a walk. Kaczegowicz jumped on a 2-0 pitch, driving it to the base of the wall in center field. Both runs scored.
Union has a non-league doubleheader scheduled at home Tuesday vs. SUNY Cortland.
