Geneseo’s women's softball team had a winning weekend, sweeping a doubleheader at SUNY Oswego, before splitting two games at home against SUNY Fredonia.
Geneseo started the weekend with a 9-1 rout of Oswego. On the mound, senior pitcher Nicole Schwartz racked up a career-high eight strikeouts over five innings, giving up only one run.
Second baseman Melissa Triolo led the way on the bases for Geneseo, scoring three runs to go along with an RBI. Senior center fielder Rachel Mihlstin drew three walks and scored two runs.
In game two against Oswego, Geneseo shutout Oswego 5-0. Junior catcher Katherine Hayes and junior designated hitter Taylor Riccardi each knocked in two RBIs and scored a run.
Against Oswego, the team tried to keep it positive and simple, according to Riccardi.
“I think what benefited everyone in the Oswego game was going up to the plate not thinking,” Riccardi said. “I know personally I have not been successful in the past when I approach the plate overthinking, so I tried to go into every at-bat with a positive mentality.”
Freshman pitcher Lauren Kersch gave up only one hit, while striking out four in her shutout performance. She also helped herself at the plate with an RBI, knocking in Riccardi in the 4th inning.
In game one of the doubleheader against Fredonia, Geneseo won a nail-biting marathon 3-2 in 10 innings. The win was a complete team effort as Geneseo used a season-high 19 players in the win.
Geneseo entered the bottom of the 7th inning down 2-0, before rallying to tie the score at two to force extra innings. The stage was set for sophomore shortstop Olivia Fazio with runners on first and second.
Fazio singled to center field, scoring freshman pinch runner Rebecca Schwartz to make the score 2-1, with sophomore pinch runner Elizabeth Eberhardt advancing to third.
After an intentional walk of Riccardi, the stage was set for Leah VanDerwarker to tie the game.
“I visualized myself making solid contact with the ball while standing in the on-deck circle,” VanDerwarker said. “My overall goal of the at-bat was to get the ball out of the infield anyway I could and to make solid contact. I did both those things, so the run was able to score.”
Nicole Schwartz pitched 8 2/3 innings, giving up only two runs and striking out six. Sophomore pitcher Mattie Woodard came on in relief for 1 1/3 innings keeping Fredonia scoreless, before Schwartz re-entered the game in extra innings.
In the bottom of the 10th, sophomore infielder Audrey Minton moved senior infielder Samantha Seeger to third with a sacrifice bunt. Two pitches later, Seeger scored on a wild pitch to end the game in the tenth.
Geneseo’s three game winning streak came to an end in the second game against Fredonia in a 3-1 loss. Rebecca Schwartz drove in the only run for Geneseo in the 3rd inning, scoring Kersch.
Kersch was relieved from her start by Eberhardt in the 5th inning, pitching three scoreless innings.
For her efforts over two games, Schwartz was named PrestoSports Pitcher of the Week by the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC). Schwartz recorded two wins, giving up only three runs, while striking out 14 batters.
Geneseo sits atop of the SUNYAC’s west division with a 3-1 league record and six points. Geneseo next takes on SUNY Brockport and SUNY Buffalo State in a pair of doubleheaders, both of which are on the road. The games take place this weekend with Brockport this Friday April 16 and Buffalo State Saturday April 17.