TROY, N.Y – With a few hours to regroup after a loss in its first game on Saturday, the Clarkson University Softball team survived its elimination contest against RIT, posting a 5-2 victory over the Tigers to advance to the championship round of the Liberty League Tournament.
In their first ever postseason appearance, the Golden Knights (22-17) will need to beat Rensselaer twice on Sunday to receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The first game is scheduled for 12 noon, with the second game following immediately after, if necessary.
After a relatively quiet first inning, Clarkson pushed one run across in the top of the second and never trailed the rest of the way. Michele Winn led off with a single up the middle and was then replaced by pinch-runner Karlie Neuhausser. Ali Schwenzfeier followed with a double to left to advance Neuhausser to third and she was able to score on Kyrstin Messier's fielder's choice to make the score 1-0. In the top of the third, Clarkson picked up three insurance runs as Jamie Bridge started things off with a one-out single. Winn grounded out to second to allow Bridge to move up to second, but she would have scored from any base on the next hit, as Ali Schwenzfeierhomered to right-center to put Clarkson up 3-0. The offense didn't slow down for the Knights as Messier and Liz Caggianoeach reached on singles, and Erika Jensen then loaded the bases with a walk. Bridget Woolley then forced a run home with a five-pitch walk to make the score 4-0 in favor of the Knights.
RIT had chances in both the bottom of the second and the third with two runners in scoring position in each inning, but both times Clarkson starter Leah Allen was able to get out of the jams with harmless pop ups. Allen retired the Tigers in order in the fourth and then the first two hitters in the fifth before back-to-back singles started a rally for RIT. Allen wasn't able to get out of that situation, as Tori Blaker singled to left-center to plate both Erin Guinan and Sarah Thayer, cutting Clarkson's advantage in half, 4-2.
Clarkson responded with a run in the top of the sixth inning when Raeanna Dunn reached on a one-out single up the middle. After a fly out by Summer Lancette, Dunn moved up to second base on a wild pitch, which proved to be a key pick up whenJamie Bridge singled to center after nine-pitch battle, sending Dunn home to make the score 5-2.
Despite seemingly getting their offense started in the fifth, RIT wasn't able to score again as just two more runners reached in the final two frames. With a runner on first and two out, Clarkson hurler Maggie Stark was able to end the game with a strikeout.
Allen picked up her fifth win of the season, giving up two earned runs over 4.2 innings, while Start claimed her third save of the year, allowing just a single hit and striking out two in 2.1 innings of work. Dunn, Bridge and Schwenzfeier each picked up two hits in the game for the Knights, while Sarah Thayer went 3-for-4 for the Tigers. RIT's Lauren Mahar took the loss, allowing four earned runs in 2.2 innings, while Sierra Valentine worked 4.1 innings, giving up one run on three hits and two walks.
