Lady Pioneers Open up 2015 Campaign

The Alfred State softball team opened up their 2015 season at the Gene Cusic Classic in Cape Coral, FL on Friday. The Lady Pioneers fell 9-1 to Suffolk University and 7-5 to Bethany Lutheran.

In the 1st inning of the opener vs. Suffolk, Katie Jackson (Troy, PA) led off the game with a bunt single and went to 3rd on a bunt single by Claire Hartman (Alden). Jackson scored when she and Hartman executed a double steal. 

Suffolk answered right back with a two run homer by Devlin Frost in their half of the 1st inning. They added two runs in the 3rd and then took full control of the game with a five-run 5th inning. All five runs in the 5th were unearned.

The Pioneers were held to just two hits and were slowed down by five errors.

In the nightcap, the Pioneers had the tying run at the plate with one out in the 7th when Anna Pipenhagen recorded the final two outs to seal the victory for Bethany Lutheran.

The Vikings took a 3-0 lead early with a run in the 1st and two more in the 3rd. The Pioneers scored two in the 4th when Hartman laid down a sac bunt that scored Marissa Durkee (Dryden). Renee Stanford (Canisteo Greenwood) came around to score on the play as well after a throwing error. Bethany Lutheran responded with three of their own in the 4th to make it 7-2 but the Pioneers chipped away with a run in the 6th on a RBI double by Allison Gibson (Arkport) and then made it 7-5 in the 7th when Hartman hit a two-run homer to center. One out later Stormi Kruger (Medina) singled and stole 2nd but the blue & gold couldn't get any more offense going.

Rebecca Hanrahan (Greene) led the Pioneers seven-hit offensive output with a 2 for 3 day. Hartman finished 1 for 3 with 3 RBI.

The Lady Pioneers are right back at it on Saturday when they battle St. Joseph's (CT) at 9 a.m. and Dominican at 11 a.m.