Softball Races Past NJCU - Falls in Extras to Rockford

The Alfred State softball team split a pair of games on day four of action at the Gene Cusic Classic in Ft. Myers, FL. The Pioneers scored in every at bat as they defeated New Jersey City 13-1 before losing a tight 7-5 extra inning contest vs. Rockford. 

After the Gothic Knights scored an unearned in the 1st the Pioneers went to work in the opener. They collected six hits and batted around in the bottom of the inning as they scored five. Marissa Varela (Egg Harbor Twp, NJ) hit a sac fly, Arianna Traugott (Elmira) and Jordan Leonard (Lancaster) collected RBI singles, Ashley Peterson (Valley Central) connected on a RBI double, and Brianna Dittman (Brooklyn/James Madison) capped the inning with a RBI single to left.

The Pioneers tacked on four more runs in the 2nd. Leonard delivered the big hit with a 3-RBI double to center. She came around to score one play later on a NJCU error. Jamie Parente (Mount Sinai) collected a RBI single and Varela made it 11-1 with a triple to right center. In the 4th, Dittman had a RBI groundout and Franklin followed with a RBI single.

Leonard was 3 for 3 with 4 RBI, Franklin was 3 for 4 with a RBI, Parente was 2 for 2 with a RBI, and Peterson was 2 for 3 with a RBI. The Pioneers collected 14 total hits and drew four walks.

On the mound, Traugott earned her first collegiate victory with five innings of one-hit work. She allowed one unearned run while walking two and striking out six.

Franklin gave the Pioneers a 1-0 lead in the 3rd inning of the nightcap when she hit a single to right field to break a scoreless contest. The game remained 1-0 until the 6th when the Regents scored three runs (one earned). Varela cut it to 3-2 with a RBI single up the middle in the bottom half of the inning.

Rockford built their lead to 5-2 with a pair of runs in the 7th but the Pioneers didn't go away. Angela Martone (Candor) led off the inning with a walk. After an out, Franklin singled and Parente was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Brittany Fisher (Indianapolis, IN) drew a bases loaded walk followed by a sac fly by Varela that was dropped to cut the lead to 5-4. Traugott hit a RBI fielder's choice to tie the game but Rockford was able to get the final out to force extra innings.

In the 8th, using the international tie-breaker, Rockford was able to collect a pair of RBI singles to make it 7-5. The Pioneers had the tying run on base in the bottom half of the inning but could not get anything across the plate.

Varela was 2 for 3 with a pair of RBI while Franklin was 2 for 5 with a RBI. Fisher pitched all eight innings allowing just four earned runs.

The Pioneers wrap up their southern trip on Thursday when they take on SUNY Canton at 9 a.m. and Knox College at 11 a.m.