Potsdam, NY – A walk-off single from Kyrstin Messier in the bottom of the eighth provided the Clarkson University Softball team with a split against Skidmore as both teams remained alive for Liberty League playoff spots.

The Golden Knights dropped the opener 5-2 and picked up a 3-2 win in extras to improve to 19-15 on the season and 6-4 in the Liberty League. Skidmore moved to 17-21 and 4-6 in conference games. Clarkson closes out the regular season against Rensselaer on Sunday afternoon, while the Thoroughbreds play Union College.

In the opener, Skidmore got on the scoreboard first with a two-out single to gain a 1-0 lead early, but the Golden Knights picked up two in the bottom of the third. Raeanna Dunn doubled down the left field line and then scored on a Summer Lancette single. Two batters later, Lancette came around on a sacrifice fly to center to make the score 2-1.

Clarkson starter Jamie Bridge was able to get out of trouble in a few innings, but some miscues in the top of the fifth allowed Skidmore to push four runs across. Maddie Nelson led off by striking out, but was able to reach first on a passed ball. That proved costly for Clarkson as Kristina Foley singled home two runs after the third out would have been recorded. Another run came around on a passed ball and a single scored Foley for four Skidmore runs, all unearned. Clarkson left two on in the bottom half of the fifth, but never threatened again as Skidmore took game one.

Dunn went 2-for-4 in the opener as the only Clarkson player to record a multi-hit game. Bridge was saddled with the loss despite allowing just five hits and two walks in seven innings, striking out 10 along the way. Foley was the only player from Skidmore was seemed to see the ball well, as she went 3-for-3, accounting for the majority of the Thoroughbreds' hits.

Skidmore again was the first to score in the nightcap, picking up an unearned run in the top of the third. Clarkson tallied a pair in the bottom of the fourth as Liz Caggiano and Erika Jensen delivered back-to-back singles to left, plating Michele Winn and Ali Schwenzfeier. The Thoroughbreds tied the game up in the top of the fifth with another unearned run. The two teams traded zeroes in the sixth and seventh, despite threats from both squads, and it wasn't until the eighth that the game was finally decided. Jamie Bridge led off with a single and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt, and then to third on a groundout. That set up Messier to be the hero, as she struck a single to left over the top of the infield to plate Bridge with the game-winning run.

Bridge, Messier, Caggiano and Jensen each recorded two hits to account for eight of the Knights' 10 base knocks, while Lauren Fortunato was 3-for-3 for Skidmore, doing the majority of the damage in Skidmore's five hits. Leah Allen gained the win in relief, allowing one hit and four walks in four scoreless innings. Amanda Carilli finished 1-1 on the day, gaining the win in the opener but taking the loss in game two.