The Geneseo women's softball team gained some precious breathing room for the upcoming SUNYAC playoffs after they swept the Potsdam team in a doubleheader on Sunday.
First, Geneseo lost both games of a doubleheader to No. 10 Cortland on Friday and split a doubleheader with Union on Saturday. The Lady Knights are currently 10-6 in SUNYAC play with four conference games remaining.
Geneseo lost the first game to Cortland on Friday 1-0 in a well-pitched game on both sides. Sophomore Janine Montera took the loss, despite not walking a batter. Montera allowed the only run of the game on a groundout in the third inning.
Head coach Tony Ciccarello said, "They got the hit and that's basically what it came down to." He added that the matchup between Montera and Cortland's Katie Finch "may have featured the best two pitchers in the league." In the second game Cortland jumped out to an early lead and won 10-1.
Saturday, Geneseo defeated Union 3-1 in the first game of the doubleheader. Freshman KK Schaus led Geneseo, going 4-4 with a two RBI single that gave Geneseo the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Montera pitched well again for the Lady Knights, holding Union to only one run without allowing a walk for her third straight game.
Geneseo lost the second game to Union 5-3. The Lady Knights had a big third inning - the one in which they scored.
Despite the losses, Geneseo was able take away some positives from the games against Cortland and Union. Ciccarello said playing such good teams "without a doubt prepares [the team] for the postseason."
Geneseo was able to clinch the postseason berth Sunday with the sweep of Potsdam on Senior Day. In the first game, Geneseo was able to get out to an early 8-2 lead after the third inning. They held on to win by a score of 9-6 as senior Kerry Kuhn picked up the win on the mound and Montera came in to earn the save. The top of the order propelled Geneseo to the win, going 9-16 during the game.
Geneseo won the second game 11-2 thanks to a huge nine-run fourth inning. Freshman Molly Walsh led off the fourth inning with a double, and then had her first home run later in the inning.
Kuhn and junior Katie Holm each went 3-3 with a pair of RBI. "It was a nice send off for the three seniors," said Ciccarello. "It's always sad to see them go."
Geneseo closes out the season Saturday at Fredonia as they try to improve their seed for the SUNYAC tournament.