Vivian Johnson connected for four hits on the day, while Meredith Rose and Maeve Thompson both recorded three knocks apiece as the St. Lawrence University softball team battled back in the second game of a doubleheader to earn a Liberty League split with Route 11 rivals Clarkson Sunday afternoon in Potsdam, N.Y.  

"We were able to execute in high-pressure situations in game two today after settling down from an uncomfortable start in game one," said Rosie Phillips, head coach of the Saints. "Once we're able to keep plays simple, we'll have all the pieces working together. We had some clutch bunts executed when it mattered most and I'm pleased with our fight in the second game."

St. Lawrence moves to 11-6 on the year, 1-1 in Liberty League play as Clarkson goes to 8-11, 1-1 in league play as well.  
 

Game 1: Clarkson 5, St. Lawrence 3 

In the first game of the day, the Golden Knights created some offense right off the opening pitch. Katy Aldous would force a lead-off walk and advance to third on the next play due to a throwing error. With runners at second and third, another walk resulted in the bases loaded with no outs in the inning. 

That allowed before Devin Fitzpatrick would connect for a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing the first run of the game across the plate. With runners in scoring position and only one out, Izzy Melanson took control in the pitcher's circle for the Saints, forcing the next two batters to line out to center and get out of the inning with minimal damage done.  

St. Lawrence managed to get runners on first and second with no outs in the top of the second as Rose led off with a single while Sofia Camillieri reached on a fielder's choice. Clarkson was fortunate to get out of the inning unscathed, striking out two of the next three batters along with forcing a pop-up to the pitcher to keep the Saints at-bay.  

Strong defense backing up capable pitching was the key to the next few innings. Both offenses struggled to piece together hits and build momentum until the bottom of the fourth when a single through the right side of the infield from Emma Sabourin scored two runs pushing the lead to 3-0.  

The Saints would break through into the scoring column in the top half of the fifth. Olivia Caporale ripped a single to the gap in left center and was replaced on the basepaths by Zoe Davenport. The pinch runner then advanced to second, as Caelen Jahnle wore an inside pitch and was awarded first base.  

In the next at-bat, Thompson connected on a single up the middle, loading the bases with just one out in the inning. After a swinging strikeout, Rose recorded her second hit of the game, a laser single to left center, which scored Thompson and Jahnle from second and third to square things up at 3-3.  

Clarkson retook the lead soon after in the bottom of the fifth, courtesy of a Fitzpatrick lead-off homerun, pushing the score to 4-3 as St. Lawrence would be held hitless in the top half of the sixth. The Golden Knights would add one more for insurance in the bottom of the sixth as the 5-3 scoreline would hold for the remainder of the contest.  

For the Saints, Rose led the way with two hits and two RBIs, while Johnson, Thompson and Caporale all connected for one hit each.  

Six different players each recorded one hit each for the Golden Knights as Fitzpatrick and Sabourin drove in two runs apiece.  

Melanson was handed the loss in the circle, striking out two over five innings while Fitzpatrick picked up the win in the day opener, striking out six while allowing just five hits in a complete-game outing.  
 

Game 2: St. Lawrence 7, Clarkson 5 (9 Innings) 

St. Lawrence jumped out to an early lead in the final game of the day, putting up two runs in the top of the first inning. With runners on second and third courtesy of an error and wild pitch, Sofia Berryhill helped herself on the rubber with a two-out double to left field bringing Rose and Allison Kloft across the plate.  

Clarkson responded with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning as a similar two-out double from Fitzpatrick scored a speedy Elizabeth Greco all the way from first to cut the deficit to one.  

Moving to the top of the second inning, the Saints bats continued to stay hot as they plated three runs, all with two outs in the inning. With Emily Crain on first, Thompson stepped up to place a perfect swing into the left-center gap, good for two bases, moving Crain to third. Johnson followed in a similar fashion in the next at-bat, crushing a double to right center, bringing both runners home and pushing the Saints lead to 4-1.  

After an error by the third baseman placed runner on the corners for St. Lawrence, Rose smashed the team's third double of the inning, scoring Johnson and giving the Scarlet and Brown a bit more breathing room.  

After two innings of dominant pitching from Berryhill, the Golden Knights gained another breakthrough in the bottom of the fourth behind singles from Sabourin and Aldous, scoring one run with each, closing the gap to 5-3. Layne Fritz would enter the game in relief again for the Saints, forcing two groundouts and eliminating the Clarkson threat to keep the lead intact.  

With two outs in the last half-inning, an infield error allowed Clarkson to reach first base as a single and walk in the next two at-bats loaded the bases. In the following at-bat, Isabel Haspil managed to poke a single into left field, bringing two runs across, tying the game at 5-5. Fritz managed to jam the next batter into a groundball to the shortstop ending the frame and taking the game to extra innings.  

In extras, after a scoreless eighth, Thompson led off the inning with a hard-hit single to right center and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Johnson followed that with a single up the middle to put runners on the corners, before stealing second to put the Saints on the doorstep with no outs in the inning. A perfectly executed bunt from Kloft brought Thompson in to score while moving Johnson to third. Still with no outs in the inning, Rose connected on a looping fly ball that was caught by the left fielder as Johnson would tag up and score, pushing the lead to 7-5.  

Entering the bottom of the ninth, Berryhill worked through the heart of the Clarkson order as she forced an infield popup, groundout and another popup to the shortstop to secure the win for St. Lawrence in the fading North Country sun.  

Johnson and Thompson registered 3 and 2 hits respectively in the effort for the Saints, as Johnson, Rose and Berryhill all drove in two runs apiece to conduct the offense.  

In a shared effort on the rubber between Berryhill and Fritz, Berryhill earned the win going 5 innings giving up just 4 hits and 4 walks while dialing in to strikeout 8. Fritz allowed just three hits in her three innings of work.  

For the Golden Knights, Fitzpatrick was handed the loss surrendering 4 hits while striking out 7 in 6 innings of work.  
 

Next up: 

St. Lawrence returns to action at home on Tuesday, April 9th, against another Northern New York opponent in Plattsburgh State. The doubleheader is scheduled for 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. starts at the Saints Softball Field.