Alfred, NY – The SUNY Canton softball team split the first two games of a four game weekend set with host Alfred State College on Saturday in large part due to some late game offense.

Game One

Pioneer (6-10) pitcher Ashlynn Nickerson carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning in the first game but the Roos (4-9) exploded for five runs in the seventh and eighth innings to come away with a 5-3 extra innings victory.

Trailing 2-0 in the top of the seventh Kristyn Reynolds (Malone, NY) drew a walk to lead off the inning. With one out pitcher Jordan Podkladek (Gansevoort, NY) singled to center moving Arianna Maldonado (Utica, NY) over to second who reached base on a fielder's choice. Jessica Rhodes (Alpine, NY) reached first on an Alfred State error loading the bases with one out. Kaylin Switzer (Orwell, NY) plated Maldonado on an infield ground out. With just one out left and down 2-1 Podkladek was able to bring the tying run across the plate on a wild pitch.

Podkladek closed the door in the bottom half of the seventh retiring the Pioneer batters in order as the game went to extras. The international tiebreak rules place the last batter from the previous inning on second. With Stephanie LaValley (Champlain, NY) on second, Shannon Cordero singled to move LaValley to third.

Rhea Coad (Wheatfield, NY) came up huge as she laced a bases clearing triple to score two runs. Back-to-back singles from Shannon Dowling (Oneida, NY) and Reynolds set the Roos up with no outs. After a double play ball Podkladek was able to help her own cause singling to center as SUNY Canton opened a 5-2 advantage.

Alfred State added one run in the bottom of the inning but SUNY Canton held on for the thrilling 5-3 victory. Podkladek earned her second win of the season with a complete game five hitter. She allowed one earned run while walking two and striking out five. Nickerson allowed six hits, walked four, and two earned runs while striking out seven in eight innings of work.

Game Two

In the nightcap Alfred State's Taylor McCarthy fired a four hit shutout to deliver the 8-0 victory. The Roos hit the ball sharply in game two but it was often right at the Pioneer fielders. Podkladek led the team going 2-for-2 from the plate with a double.

Shaylah Morris (Berlin, NY) got the start throwing three innings surrendering five earned runs. Podkladek came on for the final inning in relief.