SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College softball team could not get the offense going on Saturday afternoon against the University of Rochester, dropping both ends of a Liberty League doubleheader by the scores of 3-0 and 12-0 at Alexander Field.
Game One: Rochester 3, Union 0
The first game of the day started out as a pitcher's duel between senior
Makayla Koehler and Emily Sharlach, but the Yellow Jackets got one run in the fifth and two more in the sixth to take the opener.
Koehler and Sharlach traded zeroes for the first four innings, as neither offense could get the key hit. Koehler induced a lineout and a strikeout to escape a second-inning jam with two in scoring position, while a perfect relay cut down a runner attempting to score from first on a double in the third inning.
However, Marissa Russo led off the fifth inning with a solo homer to put Rochester on top. Union had a chance to respond in the bottom half when sophomore
Karson Saunders walked and reached third on a sacrifice bunt, but the next two batters could not bring her home. Rochester then plated two insurance runs in the top of the sixth on a bases-loaded walk and an RBI single.
Koehler (0-1) pitched well despite taking the loss, allowing three runs on six hits in 5.1 innings of work. Sharlach (5-1) was very impressive in the circle for Rochester, allowing only two hits and striking out 11 in a complete-game win.
Game Two: Rochester 12, Union 0
Game two was a very different story, as the Yellow Jackets scored early and often on the way to a five-inning victory.
Rochester put Union on the defensive right away with four runs in the top of the first inning, then added two in the second and four more in the third to put the game out of reach.
First-year
Amanda Granato suffered the loss for Union, allowing seven runs (six earned) on six hits in one-plus innings of work. Junior
Rochelle Nuqui allowed five runs (two earned) in two innings of relief, while senior
Catie Raeter closed the game with two innings of scoreless relief. Rochester allowed four hits in the shutout win, with Hannah Leahy earning the win by tossing three scoreless innings.
Union and Rochester will meet up again in Rochester tomorrow for two games starting at 1:30 p.m.
