The women’s softball team again proved that it was worthy of a national ranking this past weekend when it hosted the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon. UR played so well that both games were shortened to five innings due to the mercy rule, and each game took just over an hour. Five different players hit a total of eight home runs to help the ‘Jackets come out on top against the Tigers. UR won the games by scores of 10-0 and 14-2.
In the first game, the ‘Jackets started off the first inning with a run from senior outfielder Jess Sorrentino, who hit a double, advanced to third off senior infielder Alicia Citro’s ground out and scored off of a passed ball. UR got very hot in the third inning, with singles from Sorrentino, junior pitcher Beth Ameno, junior infielder Brittany Celeste, freshman infielder Lindsay Macaluso and a three-run home run from junior catcher Megan Winn.
The ‘Jackets started off the fifth inning with two outs but then proceeded to score four runs. Winn and freshmen outfielders Melissa Altemose and Liz Slupinski all singled to get on base and were brought home by a grand slam from Sorrentino. The game was then called due to the mercy rule.
Power batters for the ‘Jackets included Winn, who went two for three and had three RBIs. Ameno batted 1.000 and Sorrentino batted .750 with four RBIs.
Hylen received the win – her second of the season – pitching five innings and giving up only two hits the entire game. She allowed no runs, had eight strikeouts and zero walks.
In the nightcap, the ‘Jackets continued their dominance over the Tigers. UR took the lead early, scoring six runs in the second inning.
The inning started off with a triple from freshman infielder Erin Clark, a double from Celeste that brought Clark home and a single from Winn. Slupinski then got on base with a walk. Sorrentino stepped up to the plate with two outs and, for the second time that afternoon, hit a grand slam. Citro then followed Sorrentino’s lead and hit a home run as well.
In the fourth, the ‘Jackets added to their lead with a double from sophomore catcher Juliana Nicholson, a single from Slupinski and a two-RBI homer from Citro – her second of the night. UR kept its bats hot in the fifth, as well, with home runs from Macaluso and Nicholson and singles from Slupinski and Sorrentino. Citro then hit her third home run of the night and the game stopped again due to the mercy rule.
Overall, the ‘Jackets batted very well, hitting a total of five home runs and batting .464 as a team. Citro batted phenomenally, going 3-4, hitting three home runs and earning six RBIs. Slupinski went 2-2, Nicholson went 2-3 and Sorrentino went 2-4 with five RBIs.
Ameno pitched four innings, allowed five hits and struck out six.
Hoping to keep their streak alive, the ‘Jackets went on to play the Ithaca College Bombers Wednesday afternoon. Unfortunately the ‘Jackets lost both games of the double header, 2-7, 0-4.
In the opener, the ‘Jackets’ two runs came in the seventh inning with a home run from Macaluso and a single from Sorrentino who was advanced around the bases from a single from Citro, a walk, and an illegal pitch. Ameno pitched 5.2 innings, allowing eight hits, four runs, seven strikeouts and one walk.
In the nightcap, the ‘Jackets could not get into the grove and were only able to get three hits from Sorrentino, Celeste and Citro, all of which were singles. UR was able to hold the Bombers to only four runs thanks in part to Ameno, who pitched all seven innings.
She allowed nine hits, four runs, struck out four and walked two. Ameno’s record now stands at 10-7.
UR’s overall record now stands at 12-9. The team is currently ranked 17th in the nation. Sorrentino was named Liberty League Performer of the Week and Slupinski was Co-Rookie of the Week.
Belonga is a member of the class of 2010.
