Softball splits with Clarkson on Senior Day; loses 4-2, wins 9-7

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The RIT softball team split a doubleheader with Clarkson, Saturday losing 4-2 and winning 9-7 on Senior Day.

GAME ONE – Clarkson 4, RIT 2
First-year center fielder Emma Merkley and junior catcher Bailey Kehl each score one run and both go 2-for-3 as the Tigers lose to Clarkson, 4-2 in game one of a Saturday doubleheader.

• In the top of the first, Clarkson had a runner at third that scored on a wild pitch, putting RIT behind 1-0
• After one scoreless inning from sophomore starting pitcher Jessica Majot, the Golden Knights scored two more runs in the third, increasing their lead to three
• In the bottom of the fourth, junior second baseman Maddy Cook hit an RBI triple that scored Merkley and put RIT within two runs
• Clarkson took a three-run lead in the fifth on an RBI single to left field
• Kehl hit a lead-off triple in the bottom of the seventh. Two batters later, junior designated player Kristin Hino hit a single to left field that scored Kehl and put the Tigers within two.

GAME TWO – RIT 9, Clarkson 7
Senior third baseman Jessica Majot earned a team-high 3 RBI as the Tigers defeat Clarkson, 9-7 in the second game of the Saturday doubleheader.

• Clarkson took an early 2-0 lead in the first on an RBI double and a sacrifice fly
• The Tigers responded with four runs in the bottom of the first. Senior center fielder Elise Guth scored on a defensive error, first-year left fielder Emma Merkley scored on an RBI single from junior first baseman Erin Ozminkowski, junior second baseman Maddy Cook scored on a sacrifice fly from Majot and Ozminkowski crossed home plate on an RBI single from first-year designated player Maria Minemier
• The Golden Knights regained their early lead after scoring three runs in the top of the second inning on two RBI singles and a fielder's choice
• In the bottom of the third, Cook doubled to left center and Merkley scored, tying the game at five
• The Tigers took back their lead in the fourth inning after scoring two runs on a sacrifice fly from Guth and an RBI double from Merkley
• In the sixth, Clarkson scored one run on a RIT fielding error, cutting the Tigers' lead to one run
• With runners on base, Majot hit a single through the left side that scored Cook and Merkley, making it 9-6 in favor of the Tigers
• The Golden Knights added another run in the seventh inning on an RBI single, but the next two batters for the Golden Knights recorded outs, giving RIT the win

WHAT'S NEXT
The Tigers travel to Geneseo on Wednesday (Apr. 17) for a doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m.