POTSDAM, N.Y.—SUNY Geneseo (16-2, 4-0 SUNYAC) defeated the SUNY Potsdam softball team (0-17, 0-6) by 7-1 and 12-0 scores on Monday afternoon.
Game one was tightly contested through four innings. Senior third baseman Taylor Riccardi (Brewster, N.Y./Brewster) put the Knights up 1-0 in the top of the first, but there was no more scoring until the fourth. Junior second baseman Audrey Minton (Conesus, N.Y./Livonia) scored after an error and senior third baseman Alexandra Koutsogiannis (Westbury, N.Y./W.T. Clarke) drove in the third run with a sacrifice fly. RBI doubles from Riccardi and sophomore pitcher Lauren Kersch (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) extended the lead to 5-0. Junior designated player Oliva Fazio (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) brought in the sixth run with a single to left. Freshman left fielder Kaitlyn Schmitz (Eden, N.Y./Eden) drove in the seventh run for Geneseo in the top of the sixth with a single down the left field line. With two outs, Bears junior first baseman
Anna Grottola (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connetquot) walked and stole second. Senior second baseman
Vanessa Brandt (Saugerties, N.Y./Saugerties) then doubled to left to score Grottola with Potsdam's lone hit.
Kersch (6-0) earned the win with four hitless innings, while striking out four and walking four. Junior Mattie Woodard (Eden, N.Y./Eden) picked up her second save, allowing a run on one hit and striking out four in three innings. Senior
Sierra Ashley (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Lisbon) allowed seven runs, five earned, on 13 hits for Potsdam.
Riccardi finished 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Kersch was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Junior shortstop Leah Vanderwarker (South Glens Falls, N.Y./South Glens Falls) was 2-for-4 with two runs and Fazio finished 3-for-4.
Geneseo jumped in front 2-0 in the top of the first on an error, passed ball and an RBI double off the bat of sophomore designated player Lauren Gulick (Fairport, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy). The Knights added a run in the third and two in the fourth before breaking the game open with seven in the top of the fifth. Freshman left fielder Hannah Olejniczak (Lake View, N.Y./Frontier) and junior pinch hitter Iris Kahris (Buffalo, N.Y./City Honors) had a two-run single and a two-run double in the inning.
Junior Elizabeth Eberhardt (Hamburg, N.Y./Hamburg) (3-1) struck out seven and allowed just three hits in five innings to earn the shutout. Sophomore
Anna Brown (Ellenburg Depot, N.Y./Northern Adirondack) (0-9) allowed eight earned runs on 11 hits for the Bears.
Sophomore second baseman Rebecca Schwartz (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connetquot) was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Schmitz was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Junior first baseman Anna Johnston (Buffalo, N.Y./Frontier) had a 2-for-3 performance with a run.
The Bears are back in action tomorrow when they host Brockport for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
