SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Coming into the game on a 698-day layoff from competition, the Union College softball team got off to a slow start in its 2021 season-opener on Saturday afternoon at Alexander Field. But after spotting Skidmore College a five-run lead in the top of the first, the Dutchwomen scored seven unanswered runs to take game one 7-5 and then cruised to an 8-3 game-two win to begin Liberty League play in impressive fashion.
 
After missing her first collegiate season, sophomore Olivia Valery had an impressive debut for Union (2-0, 2-0 Liberty League), going 6-for-8 with a double, triple and five runs batted in. Seniors Kendall Rogoff and Makayla Koehler both drove in three runs apiece, while classmate Stuart Buxton scored a team-leading five runs on the day.
 
Game 1: Union 7, Skidmore 5
The first game of the season did not get off to an auspicious start for Union thanks to five Skidmore runs in the top of the first, but Union rallied with three runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth to pull out the comeback victory.
 
After recording four hits over the first four innings, Union finally broke through in the fifth, beginning with a two-run double off the bat of Rogoff that scored Buxton and junior Julissa Malana. Sophomore Karson Saunders followed with an RBI grounder that got the home team within two.
 
Union took advantage of a Skidmore miscue to plate five runs in the sixth inning and take the lead for the first time. Koehler knotted the score with a two-run single, followed by an RBI single from Rogoff that put the Dutchwomen ahead for good. Senior Catie Raeter followed with a bases-loaded walk to provide an insurance run.
 
After Kaitlyn Judd hit a three-run homer and Dana Ragan singled home two more to put the Thoroughbreds ahead early, the tandem of Koehler and Raeter shut down the Skidmore offense the rest of the way. Raeter earned the victory by tossing three scoreless innings of relief, striking out six and allowing only two hits.
 
Game 2: Union 8, Skidmore 3
Valery had a huge game to lead Union in game two, going 4-for-4 with five RBIs as Union scored eight times on only six hits in an 8-3 win.
 
The sophomore began her big day with an RBI single that placed Buxton with the game's first run in the bottom of the first inning.
 
After Skidmore tied the game in the top of the third, Union responded with two in the bottom half and five more in the fourth to break the game open. Valery again was in the middle of things in both innings, doubling home Buxton for a 2-1 lead in the third and then providing the backbreaker with a bases-clearing triple in the fifth. Koehler added an RBI grounder and Saunders pitched in with an RBI single as part of the five-run frame.
 
Sophomore Amanda Granato earned the win in her collegiate pitching debut, allowing three runs on nine hits over six innings of work. Raeter finished off the game with her fourth scoreless inning of the day.
 
Union and Skidmore were scheduled to complete their four-game weekend series on Sunday in Saratoga Springs, but the games were postponed due to inclement weather forecasted for tomorrow.