Softball falls twice in Florida; 8-5 to St. Joseph, 4-3 (8 inn.) to Geneva

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The RIT Softball team lost a pair of games at the Gene Cusic Softball Classic, Tuesday, falling, 8-5, to Saint Joseph (CT) and Geneva (Pa.), 4-3 (8 inn.).
 
SAINT JOSEPH (CT) 8, RIT 5

• Saint Joseph brought four runs across in the first inning and added a run in each of the next three innings to build a 7-0 lead after four innings.
• RIT notched four runs in the bottom of the fifth, started by a one-out triple by Carlianna Ewing followed by a RBI single by Anna Cavotta. Emma Merkley followed with a single to left and stole second before Bailey Kehl brought Ewing home from third with a RBI ground-out to short. Maddy Cook followed with home run over the left field fence to make it a 7-4 deficit.
• The Owls retook a four-run lead with run in the sixth and limited the Tigers two one more run on a RBI double by Kehl in the bottom of the seventh.
• Cavotta finished the game 3-for-4 and scored a run, while Cook was 2-for-4 including her second round-tripper of the seson.
• Starter Katie Schneider took the loss in the circle, allowing three runs on a hit and three walks. 

GENEVA (PA.) 4, RIT 3 (8 INN.)

• Geneva scored an unearned run with two outs in the bottom of the second second, and another run in the third before bringing a run across with two outs in the fifth for a 3-0 lead.
• The Tigers were limited to four hits through six innings before breaking through with three runs in the top of the seventh. Ewing led off with a single to left before Cavotta reached on an infield single. Merkley advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt before Kehl plated Ewing with a RBI ground-out. Cook laced a two-out triple to right field before coming home on a wild pitch to tie the game.
• Starting pitcher Jessica Majot got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the eighth, including a strikeout to force extra innings.
• Addison Hill started the eighth inning on second and, after advancing to third on a wild pitch, was thrown out attempting to score on a ground ball to third hit by White.
• Starting the bottom of the inning with a runner on second, Geneva brought home the deciding run with a pair of hits.
• Ewing and Erin Ozminkowski were each credited with a pair of hits.
• Majot took the complete-game loss, surrendering eight hits, four walks and two earned runs while striking out seven. 

WHAT'S NEXT
RIT closes their 10-game spring break swing with games on Wednesday (Mar. 12) versus Alfred State at 9:00 a.m. and Cobleskill at 11:00 a.m.