Pioneers and Roos Split

Alfred State and SUNY Canton split a Saturday afternoon doubleheader at Pioneer Park. The Kangaroos won the opener 2-1 while the Pioneers won the nightcap 10-5.

In the opener, Jordan Leonard (Lancaster) and Jordan Podkladek locked horns in a pitcher's duel. The lone runs of the game came in the 5th inning. Chole Solomon connected a two-run double and Allison Gibson (Arkport) answered with a RBI double in the bottom half of the inning. The Lady Pioneers had a tying run thrown out at home in the 5th.

Podkladek allowed ten hits and one walk in seven innings of work but allowed just the one run. Leonard allowed nine hits and three walks in seven innings of work.

Gibson, Amanda Rockefeller (Bolivar Richburg), and Kelsey Lewis (Johnson City) all were 2 for 3 for Alfred St. The Lady Pioneers collected ten hits but stranded six. Solomon and Rhea Coad were both 2 for 4 for Canton.

Lura O'Keefe (Allegany Limestone) and Melissa Barber (Nassau/Catholic Central) led the offense in the second game. The duo was 6 for 8 with seven RBI in the game.

Alfred trailed 2-1 heading into the bottom of the 3rd before O'Keefe hit a bases clearing triple to give the Pioneers the lead for good. Rockefeller followed with a sac fly and Lewis tripled home another run to make it 6-2.

O'Keefe had a RBI single in the 4th followed by another Rockefeller RBI. Barber drove her second run of the game in with a single in the 5th prior to another RBI single by O'Keefe.

O'Keefe finished 3 for 4 with 5 RBI while Barber was 3 for 4 with 2 RBI. Stormi Kruger (Medina) was 2 for 3 while Lewis continued to swing a hot bat finishing 2 for 4 with a RBI. Rachel Thornhill was 2 for 3 while Stephanie Miller and Solomon were 2 for 4 for the Roos.

Tonia Tinker (Alfred Almond) earned the complete game victory for Alfred State. She allowed just two earned runs.

The blue & gold are back at on Sunday when they host St. Lawrence in a 12:30 p.m. doulbeheader.