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Knights softball split Versus RIT on Sunday

Posted 4/20/15

For the second time in four days, the Clarkson University Softball team came away with a game one victory but finished short of completing a conference sweep with a loss in game two, this time taking …

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Knights softball split Versus RIT on Sunday

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For the second time in four days, the Clarkson University Softball team came away with a game one victory but finished short of completing a conference sweep with a loss in game two, this time taking a 7-1 victory against RIT before falling shy 5-4 in the nightcap.

The Golden Knights moved to 17-8 overall and are 3-5 in Liberty League play, while the Tigers are now 7-17 and 3-7 in conference games. Clarkson will very likely need to win at least three out of the final four conference contests to earn a Liberty League playoff berth.

In the first game, things were quiet for the opening two frames, but Clarkson scored a pair in the bottom half of the third to gain a lead it would never relinquish. Katie Scott delivered a two-run single to plate both Raeanna Dunn and Jamie Bridge, and two innings later Bridge would double home Dunn, who also led off the inning with a double. RIT plated one in the top of the sixth, but Clarkson responded with four in the bottom half of the inning. Ali Schwenzfeier led off with a double and came home on a passed ball, but the runs would continue as Clarkson added four more hits in the inning. Katelin Ferguson scored pinch-runner MacKenzie Pelton with a single, Summer Lancette doubled home Dunn, and then Lancette came home on a single by Bridge to complete the scoring.

Bridge finished 3-for-3 at the dish, recording two doubles and two stolen bases, and Dunn also went 3-for-4. Ferguson went 2-for-3 with an RBI. In the circle, Bridge finished with 13 strikeouts in a complete-game effort, recording at least one whiff in each of the seven innings she pitched, for her 10th win of the season. For RIT, Emily Shoemaker went 2-for-3 to lead the Tigers on offense, and Sierra Valentine took the loss, going six innings and striking out five.

In the second game, Clarkson started off with a 2-0 lead in the first three innings. The second inning saw the Knights get on the board on an RBI ground-out from Katie Pelton which allowed Ali Schwenzfeier to score from third, and in the third inning Jamie Bridge reached on an error, moved to second on a single and stole third, putting her in position to score on a sacrifice fly from Katie Scott.

In the top of the fourth inning, RIT took its first lead of the day with three runs. Emma Sarles scored on a wild pitch and an RBI groundout to second tied the game up. Alexa Farner kept the rally alive with a single to center to plate the go-ahead run. The lead would be short-lived for the Tigers, though, as Raeanna Dunn started a two-out rally by reaching on a single and then stealing second, and classmate Summer Lancette drove her home with a triple to right-center. Two innings later, RIT would take the lead for good on a two-run homer to center field by McKenzie Martin. Clarkson would get one back in the bottom half of the sixth on a Raeanna Dunn infield single, but it was all that the offense could muster.

Dunn, Lancette and Chelsea Elliott each went 2-for-4 while Schwenzfeier was 2-for-2 with two runs scored. For RIT, Emily Shoemaker, Amanda Cook and Alexa Farner each recorded a pair of hits. In the circle, Bridge took the loss as the game-two starter, going seven innings and allowing nine hits and four walks. Lauren Mahar gained the victory for RIT, scattering 10 hits and allowing just one walk while striking out seven.