ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Emily Sharlach did not allow an earned run over 7.0 innings to lead the University of Rochester softball team to a 2-1 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), in the Liberty League Championship game on Saturday afternoon at Southside Field. With the win, the Yellowjackets improve to 26-13 overall and earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Engineers conclude their season at 25-17.
The Yellowjackets struck first in the bottom of the first on a two-run homer off the bat of Hannah Keiper. Loren Castilloux singled to center in front of the long ball from Keiper, which flew into the batting cage past the left field wall.
After a scoreless second, RPI senior
Jessica Torch manufactured a run for the visitors all by herself. With two outs in the inning, she bunted for a hit, stole second and advanced to third when the ball got away from Rochester shortstop Ally Kim. She then came home on a passed ball.
Rochester bunted two runners into scoring position in the bottom of the fourth, but RPI junior righthander
Brooke Sroczinski was able to get out of the jam by striking out the next two batters.
The Engineers then mounted a threat in the top of the fifth, loading the bases with only one away. Rochester starter Emily Sharlach was able to induce a pop-up for the second out, before
Gabby Comeau laced a pitch into the left field gap that was hauled in on the run by Castilloux to end the frame.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Yellowjackets worked the bases full with two outs, but Sroczinski was once again about to wriggle out of trouble, getting Alexis Klee to ground out to third to keep the deficit at one.
Sophomore
Mikayla O'Neill opened the top of the seventh with a single and moved up on a sacrifice bunt by
Ryleigh Greenwald. A groundout from Torch moved O'Neill to third, but
Catherine Worthington popped to short to end the game.
Sharlach (6-5) allowed one unearned run on seven hits over 7.0 innings. She struck out two and walked two. RPI senior
Erika Holowka (11-6) gave up two runs on three hits in 2.0 innings, striking out two and walking one. Sroczinski surrendered three hits over 4.0 innings of relief, striking out five with three walks.
Comeau and O'Neill each went 2 for 3 on the day, while Rochester's Madi Turner was the lone Yellowjacket to collect multiple base hits, going 2 for 3.
