Marina Juan had her first collegiate home run and a double,
Leah VerSchneider had five RBIs across two games, and six different Saints had multi-hit games, as the St. Lawrence University softball team set a program record for runs scored in a conference game as they split a doubleheader with the Skidmore Thoroughbreds Sunday afternoon in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
They were saddled with a hard-fought 7-6 loss in game one before rebounding with a 21-8 victory in the latter half of the twin bill.
The Saints moved to 17-13 on the year and 5-7 in the Liberty League. The Thoroughbreds are now 11-21 with a 3-9 mark in the conference.
With Sunday's result, St. Lawrence sits right at the cut line for the Liberty League playoffs entering the final week of the season. They hold a one-game lead over Union for the fifth and final spot in the conference tournament.
The 21 runs in a game were the highest for the Saints since they plated 25 against Wells College in 2022.
Game 1: St. Lawrence 6, Skidmore 7
The Saints continued their season-long trend of high-powered first-inning offense, scoring five runs in the opening frame.
Caelen Jahnle and
Allison Kloft both singled, with Kloft driving in a pair, while
Sofia Camillieri had a two-run double and VerSchneider had an RBI double as well.
The Thoroughbreds were able to get one on Saints starting pitcher
Izzy Melanson in the bottom of the first with three singles in the inning. But in the third, the Scarlet and Brown added another to bring their total to six on a single from Juan, a walk by
Stella VanGee, and an RBI knock from VerSchneider to take a 6-1 lead.
Skidmore once again responded in the bottom of the frame, scoring two runs as the Saints' lead was trimmed down to 6-3.
St. Lawrence's offense was not able to get things going after the third inning, and Thoroughbreds starter Mallory Allen did not allow a single batter to reach after the third, retiring the final 14 batters she faced.
Despite being quiet offensively, the Saints still maintained their lead.
Sofia Berryhill came in to pitch after Melanson went 3 and one-thirds, pitching a scoreless remainder of the third and didn't allow a run in the fourth or fifth.
The home team tacked on another run in the sixth off a single, and another single followed by a throwing error, scoring run number four of the night for Skidmore.
Heading into the bottom of the seventh and the Saints leading 6-4, the Thoroughbreds started with a single and a walk, putting two runners on with nobody out. Berryhill then got her mound counterpart Allen to strike out. After this, another single loaded the bases for Delaney Swain.
Swain, who already had two hits earlier in the game, drove the first pitch she saw deep into the right field corner, scoring all three runners as Skidmore ended game one in walkoff fashion 7-6.
Game 2: St. Lawrence 21, Skidmore 8
The Saints started this one strong offensively once again. Vivian Johson, Jahnle, and
Allison Kloft all walked to start the game. VerSchneider then added two more RBIs on the day with a single, Thompson singled, and Juan drove in two with a double. That made the game 4-0 without an out recorded by Skidmore. Monroe helped herself out, driving in two more with a single, and the Saints opened up another big lead after the first inning, up 6-0.
The Scarlet and Brown added another run in the second thanks to a run-scoring base knock by Thompson, taking their largest lead of the day to 7-0.
Skidmore would make it 7-2, but the Saints continued to score runs at will, adding five more in the third with one RBI each from Johnson, Kloft, and VerSchneider. Thompson brought two more around with a double, giving the Saints a 12-2 lead.
Monroe sent down the Thoroughbreds in order in the third, but Skidmore got back in the game in the fourth, getting three runners on, and then Jessica Nachamie hitting a grand slam. Sophia Finch then homered on the next pitch and the St. Lawrence lead was 12-7.
Juan led off the fifth inning with her first career home run but Finch responded with another home run in the bottom of the sixth.
Heading into the seventh up 13-8, the Saints poured it on scoring eight runs in the final frame. St. Lawrence had five hits in the inning, a pair of stolen bases, and got some help from the Skidmore defense as the Thoroughbreds had three errors in the inning.
Monroe allowed two runners on the bottom of the seventh, but the first-year got back-to-back strikeouts to confirm the 13-run victory.
Up Next:
The Saints will head to Plattsburgh for a non-conference doubleheader with the Plattsburgh State Cardinals on Wednesday, April 30 before Senior Day this upcoming weekend in a crucial conference doubleheader with Rensselaer.
Playoff implications will come from the result of the conference twin bill, as St. Lawrence attempts to lock in its second consecutive Liberty League tournament appearance.
