Pioneers Tripped up By Medaille

The Alfred State softball team fell in pair of contests as they battled Medaille on Thursday afternoon. The Mavericks took the opener 6-3 and the nightcap 13-2.

In the opener, Lauren Kocher delivered RBI singles in the 3rd and the 5th to get the Mavericks on the board. Abby Nicometi scored on a wild pitch in the 5th and Morgan Ziemba lifted a sac fly in the 6th to build the Medaille lead to 4-0.

The Pioneers rallied in the 6th and cut the deficit to 4-3. Steffanie Preston (Groton) drew a bases  loaded walk, Annie Corrao (Grand Island) collected a RBI single, and Zoe Derr (Elmira Heights/Thomas Edison) hit a sac fly.  The blue & gold had runners on 1st and 2nd when Laura Kratzke recorded the final out of the inning.

Bridge Masiello connected on a two-run homer to add a pair of insurance runs and Kratzke struck out the side in the bottom of the 7th to seal the win.

Courtney McDaniel (Arkport) was 2 for 4 to pace the Pioneer offense while Kocher was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI for the Mavs.

In the nightcap, the Lady Pioneers got on the board in the 1st when McDaniel collected a RBI single and Alexis Bradshaw (Brighton) collected a RBI groundout. 

Medaille answered back with four in the top of the 2nd. They then put the game out of reach with a seven-run 3rd inning. They added two more runs in the 5th.

Mercedes Sulzbach led the Mavericks with a 3 for 3, 2 RBI day. She collected two doubles and a triple. Halle Jurs and Kocher were each 2 for 3 with a RBI. Brooke Peters tossed a complete game five-hitter.

Melissa Barber (Nassau/Catholic Central) finished 2 for 3 for the Lady Pioneers. 

The Pioneers continue their homestand on Friday when they host Pitt-Bradford for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.