SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - The Union College softball team opened up the home part of their 2024 schedule by kicking off Liberty League play against Ithaca College on Sunday, falling short in the doubleheader, 11-1 and 5-1.
 
Game One: Ithaca 11, Union 1 (6 innings)
 
Ithaca wasted no time grabbing an early lead in the opening half of the doubleheader, taking advantage of a Union error to grab a 1-0 lead in their opening at-bats. Three consecutive hits to open the second gave the Bombers a pair of runs for some insurance, and two-out hitting in the fourth and fifth innings pushed their lead to six.
 
Ithaca added five more in the sixth before Union got on the board in the home half. A leadoff double from sophomore Ellie Wintringer followed by singles from juniors Tatum Perkins and Nahnny Sobetzko saw Union score their first run at Alexander Field in 2024 before a double play and fly out ended the game.
 
Game Two: Ithaca 5, Union 1
 
Ithaca took the game's first lead again in the back half of the doubleheader in the top of the third, but Union struck right back with one of their own in the bottom of the inning. Juniors Melody Kappel and Riley Callahan took walks to put runners on base for the heart of the Union order, and Wintringer cashed in with a single to right to tie the game.
 
The Bombers would shut down the Garnet Chargers offense the rest of the way, however. A run in the top of the fourth gave the visitors the lead back, before two in the fifth and one more in the seventh added to their lead while Union managed just one baserunner in the fourth through sixth innings thanks to a single from sophomore Haley Gibbons. Sobetzko tallied another single in Union's final at-bats in the seventh, but would be stranded on first.
 
Kappel was strong in the circle for Union in game two, allowing just two earned runs in her complete game. The Greenville native also walked twice on the afternoon and scored a run.
 
First-Year Sam Rose led the way with two hits in her home debut, while Wintringer and Sobetzko tallied a hit in each game and Callahan walked three times in the doubleheader. Wintringer also added a run scored and run batted in, and Sobetzko notched her second run batted in of the young season.
 
Sunday's rescheduled doubleheader kicks off a busy week for Union, who is scheduled to have three more doubleheaders this week alone. The Garnet Chargers return to action Wednesday when they visit Utica, beginning at 3, before they host Skidmore on Friday at 2 and Rensselaer on Saturday at 1.