Posted by Katie Peverada
The Skidmore softball team overcame an error-filled 11-2 loss in their first game against MCLA to win 7-3 in the second on Thursday afternoon. With the split, Skidmore's record moved to 7-11 while MCLA's went to 5-13. The doubleheader was intended to be at MCLA, but due to problems with the field was played at home instead.
Skidmore had a solid start in field and at the plate the first game. The defense allowed only two base runners in the first two innings, and the offense plated two runs in the top of the third inning when Abby Shea '15 hit a two-out, two-RBI single. However, the Trailblazers returned fire with a nine-run bottom half of the inning. Lauren Fortunato '17, who went two and two thirds innings in the loss and allowed five runs, was unable to keep the MCLA bats quiet in their second trip through the lineup.
MCLA, on the strength of a three-RBI double from Jennifer Sicisnki, scored five runs before the second out was recorded. MCLA pitcher Rachel Quackenbush then helped herself out when she smacked a three-RBI double to center field to put the score at 9-2 heading in to the top of the fourth. After Skidmore went down 1-2-3 in the top of the fifth inning, MCLA added two more runs in the bottom half of the frame. Facing the dreaded 10-run mercy rule, the Thoroughbreds tried to rally in the top of the fifth, earning a hit-by-pitch and two walks to load the bases with two outs. But Quackenbush was able to get the Cassie Fishkin '16 to ground out, ending the game at 11-2.
Fortunato, who gave up five hits and five earned runs, moved to 2-5 with the loss, but did have two stolen bases in the game. Shea, Lauren Gorstein '17 and May-Lin McEvoy '16 had the only three hits for the Thoroughbreds. Quackenbush allowed two runs on the three hits while striking out six.
In the second half of the doubleheader, Skidmore came out a different, more resilient team. The Thoroughbreds loaded the bases in their first at-bats, though they didn't plate any of the runners. Fishkin and the defense then got to work. Shea played a part in all three outs of the bottom of the inning, as she ranged to her right to grab a floater, threw a girl out at first, and started the execution of a perfect rundown between second and third, one of two in the game.
MCLA did add two runs in the bottom of the second to grab the 2-0 lead, but fortunately the roles from the first game were reversed. Fortunato singled to start the inning and then advanced to third on Gorstein's hit two batters later. Fishkin then tallied an RBI-single which was followed up with a MacKenzie Whiting '16 scorcher that caromed off the third-base bag down the left field line to tie the game. Britney Osborn '17 then hit a sacrifice fly deep to leftfield to put the Thoroughbreds up 3-2. MCLA responded with a run in the bottom of the inning, but the Skidmore defense executed their second successful rundown of the game to end the inning.
With runners on first and second and one out, Skidmore took the lead for good in the top of the fifth inning when Lila Rosenfeld '16 singled home Whiting to make it 4-3. McEvoy then singled to right, scoring Osborn, to make it 5-3 and end the game for pitcher Amanda Meczywor. Skidmore then tapped relief pitcher Quackenbush for two more runs before the inning was over. Sam Skott '15 laid a sacrifice bunt to score Rosenfeld and then McEvoy scored on an error, with a majestic slide into home. Fishkin, with the run support and defense behind her, allowed only three hits the rest of the way.
Fishkin scattered eight hits and three runs over all seven innings to move to 5-5 on the year. Offensively, the Thoroughbreds received at least one hit from every bat in the lineup and had six different players with RBIs. Fortunato and Whiting registered two hits apiece, while McEvoy went 3-4, stole one base, scored a run and had an RBI.
Skidmore will travel to Rochester this weekend for Liberty League play, facing RIT in a doubleheader on Saturday and then the University of Rochester on Sunday.