SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College women's softball threw everything they could at the #18 University of Rochester Yellowjackets on Saturday afternoon from Alexander Field, before dropping both games 6-4 and 4-2. Union honored their seven seniors, Karson Saunders, Samantha Long, Tara Hartnett, Hannah Mitchell, Olivia Valery, Amanda Granato, and Anna Zdunczyk in between the doubleheader.

Valery went 4-7 in the games with two runs scored. Hartnett also tied the single season walks record with her 20th walk of the season, tying Shannon Lawlor, who did it in 1999.

Game One: #18 Rochester 6, Union College 4 

After neither team was able to break through in the first three innings of a highly competitive afternoon. Union opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning. Valery singled up the middle to open the scoring. First-year Ellie Wintringer ripped a double to left field that hot off the fence. That pushed Valery to third base with no one out.

Sophomore Nahnny Sobetzko loaded the bases after reaching on a fielding error. Zdunczyk ripped single into the right center gap. Scoring both Valery and Wintringer in the process, giving Union a 2-0 lead.

Rochester responded to Union's runs, with a pair of their own to even the scoring, through five and a half innings. Union regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Saunders singled with one out to open the inning. Saunders advanced to second on a single from Valery. Saunders then stole third base. Before scoring along with Valery off a double from Wintringer. Union grabbed back their two-run lead, 4-2.

The Yellowjackets cut into Union's lead once again after a sac-fly in the top of the sixth inning, making it 4-3. Union failed to score in the bottom of the sixth. Rochester then plated three more runs in the top half of the seventh inning on four hits to grab their first lead of the afternoon.

Union was unable to put a rally together and fell 6-4 to Rochester in game one. Graanto (5-9) shouldered the loss, with 6.2 innings pitched and had one strikeout in the effort. Sophomore Autumn Duff made an appearance in the seventh innings and threw two pitches before ending the inning.

Game Two: #18 Rochester 4, Union College 2

The Yellowjackets opened the scoring with their first at bat of the game, as Rochester's Ally Kim hit a solo shot to open up game two and grab a 1-0 lead. Rochester scored the game's second run in the top of the fourth inning on a sac-fly, making it 2-0.

Union answered in the fifth inning, coming off the bat of Saunders. After a single from Granato and a walk from Hartnett. This walk from Hartnett tied the single season walks record with 20. Saunders blasted a 2 RBI triple into the right-center gap to tie the game at 2-2.

Each team played well to keep it 2-2 to the seventh inning. Rochester hit back to back singles in the inning with one out to put the pressure on Union. The Yellowjackets plated two runs off a fielder's choice to lead 4-2.
Union was unable to rally once again, after getting runners on first and third, and lost 4-2.

Duff (4-5) was tabbed with the loss. She threw 6.1 innings of work, striking out one batter and allowing seven hits. Sophomore Melody Kappel made an appearance in the seventh inning, throwing 17 pitches, to get Union out of the jam.

Union will now turn their focus to St. Lawrence for the final game of the Liberty League regular season with postseason implications. For Union, a win gets them into the postseason for the first time since 2018. First pitch in this game is set for 12 p.m. from Alexander Field