Big 4th Inning Lifts Pioneers to Split on Final Day of Florida Trip

The Alfred State softball team used a big 4th inning to defeat Nazareth to earn a split on their final day at the Gene Cusic Classic. The Pioneers defeated the Flyers 8-4 in the nightcap after falling to Rockford 14-0 in their opener.

In the nightcap vs. Nazareth, the Flyers got on the board in the 1st when Janelle Walters walked, stole second, moved to third on a sac bunt, and scored on a ground out by Katherine Ruoff. The Pioneers tied the game in the when Jade Parson (Ovid/South Seneca) drove in Sarah Boyce (Cortland) with a RBI groundout.

In the 4th, the Pioneers loaded the bases after a pair of errors and a walk. Brittany Fisher (Indianapolis, IN), Arianna Traugott (Elmira), and Danayah Diaz (Union Endicott) hit back-to-back-to-back singles. Fisher came around to score on a fielding error, Marissa Varela (Egg Harbor Township, NJ) hit a two-run single up the middle, and Parsons capped the big inning with a single to right.

The game remained 8-1 until the 7th when the Flyers put together three runs on three hits and one error. They had the tying run on deck when Fisher ended her complete game effort on the mound by inducing a fly out to right.

Fisher led the team with a 2 for 3 day and earned the win on the mound with seven innings of five hit work. Only one run was earned and she walked and struck out three. The Pioneers were patient at the plate and drew six walks.

In the opener, Rockford used an 11-run inning in the 4th to take full control of the game. The Pioneers were held to singles by Traugott, Renee Yezarski (Alfred Almond), and Angela Martone (Candor).

Alfred State finishes their spring trip to Ft. Myers, FL with a 5-5 record. The five victories are the most by the Pioneers ever at the Gene Cusic Classic. The team won five of their last seven games of the trip.

The Pioneers head back to New York with hopes of playing again next weekend when they open up AMCC at Mt. Aloysius.