Maeve Thompson had three hits over two games and the St. Lawrence University softball team clinched a spot in the Liberty League tournament on the final day of the regular season, but fell 1-0 and 3-0 over a doubleheader against No. 15 nationally-ranked Rensselaer Saturday afternoon in Troy, N.Y.
The result puts their final regular season record at 19-14, including a 6-8 conference record.
"We've accomplished our No. 1 goal of making it to the postseason, and that's a great feeling," said
Rosie Phillips, the third-year head coach of the Scarlet and Brown. "Seeing how this team plays together is exciting heading into the tournament. Although we're never pleased with losses, our lebel of competition against a nationally-ranked opponent is reassuring as we prepare for the survive-and-advance mindset of next weekend."
Game 1: St. Lawrence 0, Rensselaer 1
This pitchers' duel fittingly began with a scoreless first inning, where a bunt single by the Engineers was the only hit of the inning. Rensselaer then jumped out to an early lead in the second after Comeau reached with a single to center field, was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and driven home with a Speanburg RBI double.
The Saints got their first hit of the game off RPI starter Brooke Sroczinski in the fourth, when Thompson reached in the leadoff spot via a single. She was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by
Vivian Johnson, but two strikeouts ended the inning and kept it a 1-0 game.
That was the biggest threat faced by Sroczinski in the contest, as she sat the Saints down for the remaining game's innings. She one-hit St. Lawrence over seven complete innings, walking one and striking out 11 batters.
Izzy Melanson was charged with her ninth loss of 2024, allowing one run on five hits, allowing no walks and striking out one.
Game 2: St. Lawrence 0, Rensselaer 3
The second game of the doubleheader got off to a similarly slow start offensively, with each team going three up, three down in the first two innings of the game.
Stella VanGee broke the ice with a bunt single in the top of the third, using her speed off a dribbler down the third base line.
Sofia Camillieri then moved her over to second with a sacrifice bunt. Following a pop out by
Caelen Jahnle, Thompson got her second hit of the day but was thrown out at second to end the inning.
With the game still scoreless, Askins started off the fourth by breaking up
Sofia Berryhill's no-hitter with a single to right field. After Askins to third base, Ledger put a ball in play with two outs and reached base via an error. That scored Askins to make it 1-0 Rensselaer.
St. Lawrence threatened to score again in the fifth. VanGee reached base again, getting hit by a pitch with two outs. Camillieri then got on base with a single to left, advancing VanGee to second, but Jahnle grounded out to end the threat.
With the score still 1-0, Rensselaer tacked on some insurance in the bottom of the sixth. An Askins double to left center with one out put a runner in scoring position. Vizzini then doubled her home to make it 2-0, and Ledger smacked another double in the next at-bat to make it a three-run game. That score stood until the end of the game.
Berryhill pitched valiantly against the No. 1 team in the conference, allowing no walks, four hits, three runs with two earned over six innings pitched. Ava Markert got the win for Rensselaer, throwing seven runs of four-hit softball.
Next up:
Following Union's sweep at the hands of Rochester, the Saints clinched their first playoff berth since 2013. They will be the No. 5 seed in the Liberty League tournament, facing off against No. 4 RIT in the play-in game.
The two teams had the same record, but RIT had a better record against No. 2-seeded Rochester, which gave them the fourth seed based on their record against conference opponents in descending order.
The game will take place Thursday, May 9 at 10 a.m. at No. 1-seeded Rensselaer, the tournament host. The winner will play Rensselaer in the Liberty League semifinal.
