Lady Pioneers Hop Past Kangaroos

Alfred State swept a pair of contests at SUNY Canton to improve to 9-21 on the year. The Pioneers won the opener 8-4 and withstood a late Canton rally to win the nightcap 13-12.

The Lady Pioneers scored early and often to jump out to a 7-0 lead. They took advantage of a bases loaded error in the 1st to jump to a 3-0 lead and then added four more in the 2nd behind a bases loaded walk to Claire Hartman (Alden) and a bases clearing 3-RBI double by Rebecca Hanrahan (Greene). 

Canton cut the lead to 7-4 with two runs in the 2nd and two more in the 6th but Aubri Mosier (Rome, PA) added an insurance run in the 7th with a RBI single.

Hanrahan was the lone Lady Pioneer with multiple hits finishing 2 for 3 with 3 RBI. She also earned the win on the mound allowing two earned runs while walking one and striking out six. Alfred State took advantage of seven walks by Canton pitching.

Staphanie LaValley led the Kangaroo 11-hit attack with a 2 for 4, 3 RBI day.

In a offensive nightcap, the Pioneers once again jumped out to a big lead and held on to complete the sweep.

Stormi Kruger (Medina) hit a bases clearing 3-RBI double in the 1st followed by a RBI double by Mosier and a RBI groundout by Taylor McCarthy (Watkins Glen) to give the blue & gold an early 5-0 lead.

In the 4th leading 5-1, Lura O'Keefe (Allegany Limestone) hit a two-run homer followed by RBI singles by Mosier and Renee Stanford (Canisteo-Greenwood) to give the Lady Pioneers a 9-1 lead. 

Canton answered right back with a seven run 4th keyed by three-run homer by Stephanie LaValley to get right back in the game.

Alfred State added to the lead in the 5th behind a RBI single by O'Keefe. Allison Gibson (Arkport) connected on a 2-RBI double followed by Kelsey Lewis (Johnson City) sac fly in the 6th to make it 13-8.

Canton rallied in the bottom of the 7th with four runs including a three-run homer by Kaitlyn Tibbets. The Kangaroos had the tying run on base with two outs but McCarthy got the final out to seal the victory.

Mosier led the Lady Pioneers 15-hit attack with a 4 for 5, 2 RBI day. O'Keefe was 3 for 4 with 3 RBI, Kruger was 2 for 4 with 3 RBI, Gibson was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI, and Katie Jackson (Troy, PA) was 2 for 4. McCarthy picked up the win on the mound.

Stephanie Miller was 3 for 4 with a RBI to lead Canton while Tibbets was 2 for 4 with 3 RBI.

The Pioneers and Kangaroos meet again on Sunday when they play one last doubleheader. First pitch is slated for Noon in Canton. Alfred State leads the season series 4-2.