Allison Kloft, Vivian Johnson and Meredith Rose all recorded four hits on the day as the St. Lawrence softball team earned a series split with visiting Union College, Saturday afternoon at Saints Softball Field in Canton, N.Y.
The Saints lost an early lead and fell in extras 12-9 in game one, before turning around a strong game-two performance with a 4-2 victory.
"The first game was a battle," said Rosie Phillips, the Saints head coach. "We did fight hard, but we came up short. We saw some spurts of great energy, timely defensive plays and clutch hitting. While we were hungry for the sweep, we'll use what we learned from today's split as we prepare for our last two conference series."
Ten Saints recorded at least one hit against the Garnet Chargers as the team moved to 17-12 on the season, approaching the last two Liberty League conference doubleheaders.
Game 1: Union 12, St. Lawrence 9 (8 Inn.)
Union opened the contest scoring in the top of the second. Tatum Perkins would lead the inning off with a single and be brought around to score off a single to center field by Autumn Duff. The Garnet Chargers then made it 2-0 on a wild pitch before the inning ended.
Following a one-two-three top half of the third, the Saints' bats would come alive in the bottom half of the frame. Three straight singles from the heart of the home lineup brought Vivian Johnson around to make the score 2-1. Allison Kloft followed with a well-hit sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Meredith Rose to score from third to tie the game at 2-2. Emily Siansky then laced another single up the middle, scoring Sofia Berryhill to give St. Lawrence a 3-2 lead.
After another quick top half of the frame in the fourth, Caelen Jahnle connected on a one-out double down the left field line, then Maeve Thompson laced a single through the right side of the infield, scoring Janhle, pushing the lead to 4-2. With two outs in the inning, Sofia Berryhill continued to help the Saints offense, as an infield single to the shortstop allowed Thompson to score. The floodgates were not yet closed, as Kloft connected on a single to bring in two more runners for her second and third RBIs of the game. That ballooned the Saints' lead to 7-2.
Not to be outdone, Union would bring across five runs of their own in the top of the sixth. The visiting side quickly loaded the bases off a series of throwing errors and well-placed hits.
St. Lawrence retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Olivia Caporale stepped up to pinch-hit with two outs and runners on second and third. Caporale made no mistake, lacing a single up the middle to bring in Berryhill in to score from second while Kloft was able to add to the advantage off a throwing error as the play continued.
After two more runs from the Garnet Chargers in the top of the seventh, the game would go to extras where Union would connect for two doubles and three singles in the top of the eighth, before St. Lawrence managed to turn another double play, to take a 12-9 lead into the bottom half, which held as the final score.
Kloft led the way at the plate for the Saints with an impressive three hit game, while five other players recorded two hits. Kloft also supplied three RBIs in the opening matchup as St. Lawrence recorded eight in the contest. Both Union and St. Lawrence recorded 16 hits apiece over the course of the contest.
Cassie Wiggins earned the win in the circle for Union, going three innings with five strikeouts as Layne Fritz was handed the loss.
Game 2: St. Lawrence 4, Union 2
In the evening matchup, St. Lawrence wasted no time climbing on the scoreboard as the team facilitated three runs in the bottom of the first. Meredith Rose laced a single to left field, scoring Thompson, who had been hit by a pitch earlier in the inning. Berryhill followed in the next at bat, as she roped a single to centerfield, bringing Kloft in to score from third.
Union fired back with two runs of their own in the top of the second. Duff connected on another single plating the first run for the Garnet Chargers before being brought around to score on a fielder's choice, three batters later.
The Saints would double their lead in the bottom of the third as a two out bunt single by Stella VanGee loaded the bases. A fielding error by the shortstop on the next at-bat allowed all St. Lawrence runners to reach safely and Rose to cross home plate as the lead expanded to 4-2 where it would stay for the remained of the contest.
Berryhill would allow just four hits over the last four innings as she continued her detailed work in the pitcher's circle, earning her ninth win on the year.
For the Saints, both Johnson and Rose supplied two hits apiece at the dish, while three other players all had one.
On the rubber, Berryhill earned the win in the nightcap, striking out three while walking only three in a complete game where she also drove in two runs at the plate to help her own efforts.
Next up:
St. Lawrence returns to Liberty League action Saturday, April 27as they host Skidmore for a doubleheader at the Saints Softball Field. Game times are scheduled for 1 and 3 p.m.
