Meredith Rose smacked her 100
th career collegiate softball hit,
Sofia Berryhill went 4-for-4 while picking up a victory on the mound, and the St. Lawrence University softball team split their doubleheader with SUNY Potsdam Wednesday.
They dropped a tight score in game one 3-2, followed by a 8-3 victory to earn a split of the route 11 twin bill.
"We learned early in game one that the simple plays are what makes the biggest difference," said Saints' head coach
Rosie Phillips after the game. "We struggled to rally offensively and couldn't find a way. Although we're not satisfied with a split, I'm glad we were able to get the job done in game two."
The split result brings the Saints' overall record to 15-10 ahead of their resumption of Liberty League play Friday.
Game 1: St. Lawrence 2, SUNY Potsdam 3
The game's first runs came off the bat of Lexie Cottrill in the bottom of the second, when she bunted with two runners in scoring position and the resulting throw from
Sofia Camillieri was dropped at first by the covering second baseman, and the ball glanced into foul territory allowing two runs to come in for Potsdam. Following that, another run came in on a steal of home and the score was 3-0.
St. Lawrence had a response in the top of the third. After a groundout to start the inning,
Caelen Jahnle reached base on a shot back to the pitcher, then
Maeve Thompson moved her over to second with a single up the middle.
After a
Vivian Johnson walk, that set up the big spot for Rose, sitting on 99 career hits. She then connected on a pitch, driving two runs in for an important play on career hit No. 100. That made it 3-2 Potsdam.
The Saints mustered seven total hits over the course of the game, nearly doubling Potsdam's total of four, but the Bears recorded runs in unconventional ways. The only RBI knock in the game came off the bat of Rose. Potsdam scored runs off defensive miscues and a swiped base, ultimately leading to the 3-2 victory.
On the bump, both starting pitchers hurled complete games. Cottrill got the win for the Bears, while
Izzy Melanson was charged with the loss. First-year Melanson allowed four hits over six innings, but only one out of three Potsdam runs were earned. She also walked two and struck out three.
Game 2: St. Lawrence 8, SUNY Potsdam 3
St. Lawrence had a productive top of the first inning in the second game. Johnson was the first baserunner off a double over the center fielder's head, then
Allison Kloft walked and Rose moved the runners over on a groundout. Starting pitcher Berryhill then scored both Johnson and Kloft with a looper into shallow right center.
Potsdam halved the Saints lead in the bottom half of the first and after a scoring lull they tied the game in the third on a two-base error that allowed Potsdam baserunner Kelsey Bennett to come around and score from second base.
The score remained 2-2 until the top of the fourth, when the Saints offense came to life.
Maeve Thompson reached via a fielder's choice and then got into scoring position through advancing on a wild pitch. Johnson then put a bunt down, but was able to reach base. That put runners on the corners with just one out.
Rose then doubled both of them home with a drive into center field for her third and fourth RBI of the afternoon. Berryhill then brought Rose around with an RBI double of her own, and the Saints opened up a 5-2 lead going into the fifth.
After an uneventful bottom of the fourth,
Olivia Caporale reached second base with one out after a single, and an error by the Potsdam left fielder.
Stella VanGee checked in as a pinch runner, and after Jahnle reached via an infield single, they both scored on a two-RBI knock from Johnson to make the score 7-2.
Each team plated one additional run before the end of the game, but the Saints kept their five-run lead until the final out.
Berryhill took the victory on the mound, throwing four innings, allowing five hits, two runs, no walks and striking out two. At the plate, the Pleasant Hill, Calif. native was also the Saints' leader offensively. She added a 4-for-4 day at the plate with four RBI. She has now been awarded the victory in six of her last seven appearances.
Rose, Johnson also had three knocks each in the second game, with both players also collecting two RBI and two runs scored. Jahnle had two hits, including a walk.
Next up:
The Saints will now continue one of their busiest weeks of the season. They host Ithaca in a doubleheader Friday, April 19 at Saints Softball Field in a resumption of league play, then welcome Union for another twin bill Saturday, April 20.
