Box ScoreTROY, N.Y. – Eleni Wechsler pitched a three-hit shutout with five strikeouts as Rochester defeated Union College, 5-0, in the elimination round of the Liberty League softball championships at Doris Robinson Field on RPI's campus.
The victory puts Rochester into the Liberty League championship round on Saturday against RPI. The Engineers advanced by rallying past Union, 6-5, in Friday's first game. RPI scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh to gain the victory.
Rochester and RPI will play at 10 a.m. If Rochester wins, the same two teams will play a second 'championship' game roughly 30 minutes after the first game ends. The winner on Saturday will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships.
Nina Korn had three hits and three RBIs for the Yellowjackets. Wechsler drove in a run with a single, and Tayler Fravel drove in one. She had two hits and scored one run.
Three players had two or more hits for the Yellowjackets. Korn was 3-3. Meg Hennessy was 2-4 and scored two runs. Fravel was 2-4 with a run scored and an RBI. In all, Rochester had 12 hits.
Wechsler set down the first eight Union hitters, four by strikeout. She walked Molly O'Brien with two outs in the third, then got Dani Hennel on a comebacker to end the inning. Camille Corbin doubled with one out in the fifth before Wechsler retired the next two hitters.
Right fielder Tiffany White produced a key defensive play in the sixthy. The Yellowjackets were ahead, 4-0. With one out, Hennel singled and Aimee Palleschi reached on a dropped fly ball. Alyssa Wolejko bounced back to the mound. Wechsler threw out Hennel at third. Allyson Staats, who had two hits and four RBIs in Union's comeback win over Rochester on Friday, hit a sinking line drive to right field that White caught on the run to end the inning.
In the seventh, Joanna Chalifoux singled and advanced to second on a one-out walk to Lindsey Cohen. Wechsler ended the game inducing Kristin Schmidt to pop to White in right field and getting O'Brien on a foul pop caught by Hennessy.
Staats went the distance for the Dutchwomen (22-13). She allowed 12 hits, five runs (four earned), and walked one with no strikeouts.
Rochester went ahead in the bottom of the first. Hennessy doubled to left center with one down and Korn singled up the middle for a run. In the third, Hennessy singled to left and stole second. After Korn fouled out, Wechsler singled up the middle for a 2-0 lead.
In the Rochester fourth, Shelby Corning singled with one out. White's grounder to third was thrown away, putting runners on first and second. Fravel doubled to left center scoring Corning. White moved to third. Hennessy bounced to short and Hennel threw out White trying to score. Korn singled to short scoring Fravel for a 4-0 lead.
The fifth run came in the sixth inning. Pinch-hitter Ashley Amidon singled and Corning re-entered to run for her. Corning was thrown out trying to steal. White singled to short. Fravel singled up the middle. Hennessy flied to left with the runners holding. Korn pulled a single through the right side bringing home White.
Saturday's matchup will mark the third straight year that Rochester and RPI have played for the Liberty League softball championship. Rochester won two years ago in Troy. RPI won last year at Southside Field on the River Campus.
