Yellowjackets show promise with packed schedule

UR softball was quite busy over the past few days, taking on The College of New Jersey and Swarthmore College twice each on March 25 and 26, and then playing a double-header against then-undefeated SUNY Brockport on March 29. Their trip to Florida for the University Athletic Association Tournament helped the Yellowjackets improve their record to 10-9. “Florida was an important time for us to come together as a team,” Head Coach Jeanine Gunther said. “It was still early in the season and we needed that foundation upon which to build further success.” Close games against Emory University and Case Western Reserve University ended in one-run losses of 3-2 in both games. UR remained undaunted and took two games from Brandeis University 5-2 and 3-2. Traveling to New Jersey, UR came out 2-2 – losing to TCNJ 10-2 and defeating Swarthmore 5-1 on Friday, and once again losing to TCNJ 7-1 and beating Swarthmore 9-3.On March 25, they faced off first against TCNJ with Carr on the mound. Junior Laura Rubinchuk picked up an RBI for UR’s first run in the top of the fourth. Sophomore Jena Robertson’s RBI single in the fifth scored UR’s last run of the game. “TCNJ has a tough team and they posed a challenge for us,” Gunther said. “We put up a good effort as a team and we can only stand to benefit as a result.”UR fared better against Swarthmore, winning 5-1 and 9-3. In the first matchup, junior Kristina Long pitched a complete game – striking out two and giving up only one run. Freshman Alicia Citro had a two-run double and two-run home run. Junior pitcher Jen Moshier led UR again against Swarthmore on Saturday, picking up the win. She was relieved by Carr in the fourth. Sophomore Rachel Askin contributed with a two-run single and an RBI single, while Rubinchuk drove in a three-run double and an RBI single. “We played very well against Swarthmore and I was impressed by how we carried our momentum from Friday into Saturday,” Gunther said. “We are constantly working to get better and winning twice against Swarthmore definitely helps with team morale.”After another defeat to TCNJ on Saturday, the Yellowjackets were ready to step up their game and face the undefeated Brockport team Tuesday. UR came out with solid victories in both games, winning 8-1 and 9-1 respectively.Long would pick up the win for the first game, striking out three and allowing one run, while Moshier took the win for the second, striking out one and giving up also only one run. “Things are starting to come along quite nicely,” Robertson said. Robertson consistently hit in each of the six games last week. “Our bats would be hot one day, pitching the next and then it was the defense,” Robertson said. “After our games against Brockport, things are looking good. We really came together and, if we continue to do that, a lot of great things will happen this season.”Troyer can be reached at mtroyer@campustimes.org.