Canton, NY – The SUNY Canton softball team exploded for 16 runs including 12 in the nightcap but dropped a pair of games to visiting Alfred State College on Saturday. The Pioneers (9-21) took the opener 8-4 before the Roos (10-19) battled back but fell 13-12 in the second game of the twinbill.

The Roos honored their lone senior, Kaylin Switzer (Orwell, NY) prior to today's doubleheader.

Game 1

The Roos appeared to get out of a bases loaded jam in the first inning but an error allowed three runs to score as Alfred State led 3-0 after one. Walks continued to plague the Roos in the second inning as a 3 RBI double and walking in a run got the Pioneers out to a 7-0 lead after two at-bats.

SUNY Canton responded with two runs in the second inning. Rachel Thornhill (Heuvelton, NY) legged out an infield single to shortstop with two outs. Kaleigh Foran (Fort Ann, NY) followed with an infield single of her own and both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Stephanie LaValley (Champlain, NY) continued her hot hitting with a clutch 2 RBI double to left to score Foran and Thornhill.

The Roos got within 7-4 plating a pair of runs in the sixth inning. Kristyn Reynolds (Malone, NY) laced a one out double to left field and Thornhill reached base on a throwing error. Thornhill stole second to put a pair of runners in scoring position. LaValley came up big again with a two out single to third to score Reynolds. Coad then hit a blooper that dropped in just behind the pitcher to plate Thornhill.

Alfred State added an insurance run in the seventh and SUNY Canton went down in order in the bottom of the frame to end the opener. Annie Sharlow (Malone, NY) took the loss giving up four earned runs on seven walks in 1.1 innings. Kelsey Morgan (Central Square, NY) came on in relief to toss 5.2 innings surrendering just one earned run and four hits, while striking out five.

LaValley led the offense with two hits including a double and 3 RBI. Foran, Reynolds and Coad all had two hit games, while Coad had an RBI.

Game 2

The big first inning plagued the Roos once again in the nightcap as the Pioneer bats came alive early. Stormi Kruger stroked a 3 RBI double down the left field line and an RBI double and ground out led to a five run first inning.

SUNY Canton got one back in the bottom half of the inning on a Stefanie Miller (Latham, NY) infield RBI single to score Foran. Alfred State added four runs in the fourth on a two run homer and a pair of RBI singles.

The Roos responded in a huge way with seven runs in the bottom of the fourth. Miller started the inning with a lead-off single up the middle. Dowling legged out an infield single and Kaitlyn Tibbetts (Farmingville, NY) moved the runners over on a ground out to short. Morgan continued the inning with a one out base hit to left scoring Miller.

Reynolds drew a walk and Thornhill dropped an RBI single into left. Foran followed with a 2 RBI single through the left side to score Reynolds and Morgan and then stole second. LaValley ripped her second home run in three days, this one on a three run drive to left to get the Roos within 9-8 after four.

Alfred State took a 13-8 lead with four runs in the fifth and sixth innings as the Roos trailed by five heading into their final at-bats in the seventh. Once again the team showed their resiliency on a late rally.

Rhea Coad (Wheatfield, NY) drew a walk to lead off the inning and Miller singled up the middle. Shannon Dowling (Oneida, NY) lined a base hit up the middle to score Coad and Tibbetts followed with a three run bomb to left center field to get SUNY Canton within 13-12. After a pair of walks Thornhill worked a tremendous at-bat to draw a walk on a 3-2 count. Thornhill represented the tying run on first base. Foran stepped in and appeared to leg out an infield single to shortstop but was called out on a bang-bang play to end the game.

Morgan threw six innings giving up 11 earned. She struck out nine batters and walked three. Morgan Wicks (Hartford, NY) gave up just one hit and no runs in one inning of relief work.

Offensively SUNY Canton was led by a pair of three run homers from LaValley and Tibbetts. Foran produced 2 RBI, while Dowling, Tibbetts and Thornhill all had two hit outings.

The softball team will host Alfred State for a doubleheader again on Sunday. First pitch for Game 1 is set for 12 PM.