GENESEO, N.Y.—SUNY Geneseo (12-5, 3-2 SUNYAC) defeated the SUNY Potsdam softball team (3-12, 0-8 SUNYAC) 6-5 in 10 innings and 9-2 on Monday afternoon in a SUNYAC doubleheader at Geneseo. Freshman outfielder
Lucy Condon (Kitchner, Ontario/St. David Catholic) went 3-for-8 with one RBI. In game one, freshman designated player
Day Stevens (Ravena, N.Y./Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
In game one, Potsdam got out of the gate quickly. Condon reached base with a single to right field. After a walk to freshman pitcher
Megan Fish (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North), senior catcher
Lauren Brace (Moriah, N.Y./Moriah Central) doubled to left center, bringing in Condon. Following Brace, Stevens singled to the right side, scoring both Fish and Brace giving Potsdam 3-0 lead in the top of the first.
Geneseo had two singles and a hit by pitch to load the bases for Anna Merante in the bottom of the first. Merante singled through the left side to score a run. The Knights put the ball in play twice, but were unable to score as the Bears were able to get the force out at home. Before the end of the inning, the bases were still loaded as Abby Dennett worked a walk, bringing in Merante and narrowing the gap to one.
In the bottom second, the Knights capitalized on a couple throwing errors, putting runners on first and second. A couple batters, later Merante singled to short, tying the game at three.
Senior shortstop
Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) started the top of the fifth with an infield single. After a stolen base from Ott, Condon singled to drive in Ott, putting the Bears back on top 4-3. The lead did not last long as Geneseo was able to get the run back in the bottom of the fifth off a fielding error.
The game stayed tied, and headed into extras. In the top of the ninth, Potsdam had sophomore center fielder
Brooke Falsion (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport) and senior right fielder Noella Rufa (Helena, N.Y./St. Lawrence Central) on first and second when Ott was at the plate. Ott bunted to third, and was safe from a throwing error, while Rufa scored. That was the only run the Bears got as Falsion got tagged out at home. In the bottom half of the inning, Merante reached second off an error. Two batters later, Dennett tied the game with a single to center field, bringing in Merante.
Potsdam was unable to score in the top of the 10th and the game stayed tied. Per the NCAA rule, Geneseo was allowed to start with a runner on second. The first batter for the Knights, Alyssa Persich, bunted to third and reached due to a wild throw. Runner at second, Taylor Fedor, scored on the play to give the Knights a 6-5 win.
Fish (1-6) gave up nine hits in nine innings and only allowed two earned runs. Geneseo's Taylor Moore (8-2) went all 10, striking out six, while allowing eight hits and four earned runs.
In game two, the Knights were the first ones to light up the scoreboard. Persich started it with a single to center. She advanced to third during Alyssa Presutti's at-bat. Napoli then reached on a throwing error, while Persich scored. Geneseo got another run when Napoli scored off a Merante double to left center, giving Geneseo a 2-0 lead after one.
The Knights scored another run in the bottom of the second, widening the gap to three. In the top of the third with two outs, Falsion doubled to left field. Ott followed with a single to center to score Falsion.
In the bottom of the fourth, Geneseo had six batters contribute for three runs, expanding the lead to 6-1. Sophomore
Alissa McCauley (Malone, N.Y./Franklin Academy) relieved junior
Meghan Dougherty (East Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia) and ended after allowing two unearned runs.
The top of the sixth started with Ott reaching first base, followed by Condon doubling to left center to score Ott. The Knights got the run back after loading the bases in the bottom of the sixth. Dennett singled to right field, scoring one and giving the Knights a 9-2 lead.
Dougherty (0-6) pitched 3.2 innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs. McCauley pitched 2.1 innings and gave up six hits and one earned run. Ashlyn Kersch (3-1) pitched the complete game for Geneseo, allowing one earned run on four hits, with seven strikeouts.
The Bears return to the diamond on Friday at 3 p.m. for their home opener with Cortland.
