The Geneseo softball team finally got back on the field yesterday, splitting a doubleheader with SUNYAC rival Fredonia. A flurry of postponements effectively gave the Lady Knights a three-week rest heading into the Fredonia games, and it certainly showed as Geneseo surged ahead late, winning the opening game 9-5.
The Lady Knights manufactured a run right away: Junior left fielder Nickie Steger led off the first inning with a walk, advancing to second base on a sacrifice by sophomore infielder Sam Chin. Senior Kristen Newton brought Steger home with a single to open the scoring.
After trading rallies with Fredonia, the Lady Knights entered the bottom of the fifth clinging to a 4-3 lead. With one out and runners on second and third, Coach Tony Ciccarello called upon freshman Megan Pogemiller to pinch-hit. Pogemiller responded in a big way, doubling home the runners to take a 6-3 lead.
Freshman Janine Montera allowed three runs in five innings to earn the win, lifting her record to 2-2 on the year. Junior Lindsay Norton kept the Blue Devils at bay in two innings of relief to preserve the victory. Norton also contributed at the plate, padding her comfortable lead by smashing a two-run triple in the sixth inning.
Geneseo didn't fare as well in the second game, losing a back-and-forth contest, 4-3. For the second straight game, Steger created a run in the first inning as she reached first base on an error, stole second base, and advanced to third on a sacrifice fly before scoring on junior Liz Squairs' two-out single.
The second inning featured Geneseo's first home run of the season, courtesy of junior Sara Weisenborn, who blasted a two-run shot to left-center. Unfortunately, Weisenborn's slam marked the final runs of the game for the Lady Knights, who were unable to produce despite a solid effort from junior pitcher Kerry Kuhn.
Kuhn pitched all seven frames, allowing just one earned run and striking out five Blue Devils. The junior is now 0-4 in five starts this season, despite an outstanding 1.45 ERA.
Geneseo now sits at 3-7 overall and 1-1 in SUNYAC play. The Lady Knights host Rochester Thursday at 3 p.m., before traveling to Utica on Friday to face SUNYIT.