Mylea Mann went 3-for-4 and hit two grand slams to set a school record for grand slams and RBI in a game to lead the St. Lawrence University softball team to a 9-1 win over RIT in the first game of a Liberty League doubleheader on Monday afternoon in Rochester.
The Saints fell by a 5-4 score in the second game, almost rallying to tie the game in the seventh inning but a line-drive double play ended the game. Mann was also 3-for-4 in the second game to finish the afternoon 6-for-8 from the plate.
Game 1: St. Lawrence 9, RIT 1
After Taylor Armijo, Elle Gray and Skylar Hein all drew walks, Mann hit her second grand slam of the season to give the Saints a 4-0 lead in the first inning of the opener.
St. Lawrence starting pitcher Madison Mitchell retired the first 12 batters she faced. With two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, shortstop Deanna Sullivan made a diving over-the-shoulder catch on the outfield grass to keep Mitchell's perfect game hopes alive.
Alexandria Lunderman, however, led off the fifth with a bloop single between short and third, to end Mitchell's bid for both a perfect game and a no-hitter. Erin Guinan followed with a ground ball up the middle to put runners on first and second, but Mitchell retired the next three batters with a fly ball out and two strikeouts to preserve the shutout.
The Tigers finally got a run against Mitchell in the sixth inning on an RBI single to left by Olivia Doret, but Mitchell retired the next batter on a fly ball to deep left to strand two more RIT baserunners.
Elle Gray hit a two-run double to the wall in right center, scoring Armijo all the way from first, to add an insurance run in the top of the seventh, and after the Saints next two batters reached to load the bases, Mann once again sent the ball sailing, this time hitting it the other way over the right field fence.
Mann's two grand slams set a single-game school record, as did her eight RBI.
Armijo also had a multi-hit game for the Saints, going 2-for-3 in the opener.
Mitchell earned the victory, allowing one run on just four hits and two walks with eight strikeouts. Caroline Young got the final out for the Saints after the Tigers loaded the bases with two away in the seventh.
Lauren Mahar took the loss for the Tigers, allowing all nine runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts and three walks.
Game 2: RIT 5, St. Lawrence 4
Danielle Hotz was 3-for-4 with four RBI to lead the Tigers to victory in the second game. After the Saints once again took an early lead, scoring a pair of unearned runs in the second inning, RIT pulled within one on an RBI double by Julia Vaillancourt in the third.Â
Hotz gave RIT a 3-2 lead -- their first lead of the day -- in the fourth, then added two more insurance runs with another two-run single in the sixth.
The Tigers would end up needing the cushion, as Hein hit a one-out, two run double to deep left center. Alexandra Barter followed with a walk, and Caitlin Syphurs hit a single to load the bases, but Tiger first baseman Nicole O'Donnell made a diving stop on a line drive by McKailey Lyndaker down the first base line and she landed directly on top of the bag to double off Syphurs to end the game.
Mann was once again 3-for-4 to lead the Saints' offense, while Hein was 2-for-4.Â
O'Donnell went 3-for-3 for the Tigers, while Raquel Estrada was 2-for-3.
Allie Courtwright took the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with two strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work. Young allowed two runs on four hits in 2.1 innings of relief.
Torie Alder got the win in relief, allowing two runs on four hits and five walks in the final 3.2 innings. Melissa Gould had a no-decision in the start, allowing two unearned runs on four hits in 3.1 innings.
Records: St. Lawrence (11-13, 3-5 Liberty League); RIT (7-17, 3-7).
Up Next: vs. Union, Saints Softball Field, Canton, N.Y., April 26, 3 p.m.
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