Softball starts with split in conference

The women’s softball team opened up their Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association play with solid results giving the team a much needed boost, heading into the end of the season.The Yellowjackets started by sweeping Skidmore College in a doubleheader Friday, but were then swept Saturday by Union College moving UR to 2-2 in the UCAA.On Saturday the team faced off against a very strong Union squad, that was 6-0 in the Northeast region heading into the game. The story of both games was UR’s solid defense, which just was not given enough offensive support. “Our defense was strong, but our offense was not where we would have liked it to be,” coach Kris Shanley said. “We had trouble making good decisions at the plate, and against a team like Union you cannot get away with that.”Union showed up with impressive pitching in both games and gave up only two hits in the first game. UR fell behind early, when Union scored three runs in the first inning, but bounced back in the bottom half by scoring a run. From this point it was all Union, who walked away with a 4-1 game one win and a 6-0 game two victory.Mixed consolation can come in the fact that in the first game UR only gave up one earned run. The good news is holding a team like Union to one earned run is an accomplishment. Unfortunately, UR wound up giving up three unearned runs, meaning Union capitalized on UR’s mistakes.”Union was just a solid team and they were too good for us on that day,” Shanley said. Union looks to be the top team in the UCAA, but with the help of other teams in the league, UR still has a shot at the UCAA title.In Friday’s double header against Skidmore, UR came away with a 6-5 win in game one and an 11-7 victory in the second game.The Yellowjackets came out slow in game one and always played from behind.Skidmore opened the scoring in the top of the first with one run but UR tied it at 1-1 when senior center fielder Val Palermo scored on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the inning. Skidmore scored two in the second and held a 3-1 lead until UR tied it up in the bottom of the fifth courtesy RBI singles by sophomore left fielder Bridget Baran and junior first baseman Tracy Simon. Unfortunately, UR gave up two in the sixth and was held scoreless in their half of the inning. UR trailed 5-3 entering the seventh.Freshman second baseman Laura Rubinchuk started the seventh with a single and advanced to second when Baran singled. Rubinchuk moved to third and Baran was put out at second when Simon reached on a fielder’s choice. Freshman shortstop Susan Zultanski singled, moving Simon to second, scoring Rubinchuk. Sophomore third baseman Kristin Maloney singled advancing Simon and Zultanski. Next, junior right fielder Melissa Arms hit a sac fly, scoring Zultanski, moving Simon to third. The next batter was junior catcher Sara Dial, who has struggled from the plate.Dial stepped up with two outs and a full count and slapped a single, driving in the winning run for the Yellowjackets. “It was great to see Sara pick up her offense in the Skidmore series. She provided us with great play on defensive and offensive and showed why she is a captain and leader,” Shanley said.As far as pitching, freshman Kristina Long had a great start and freshman Jennifer Mosier came on in the third and closed out the game with a late surge.In the second game, UR came out strong and Moshier closed the door giving up three hits and no runs in four innings. “I always felt we were in control. We showed determination to win the first game and come out strong in the second,” Shanley said. “These games showed what our team is made of.”In the next four days, UR will play four doubleheaders – two against crosstown rivals and two against UCAA opponents. For UR to have a chance at the UCAA title, UR will have to win three out of their four UCAA games. “All of the upcoming games are crucial but we are taking it one at a time,” Shanley said.Fitzsimmons can be reached at afitzsimmons@campustimes.org.