GENESEO, N.Y. – SUNY Geneseo junior Marisa Motisi had a double, home run and four RBI in the second game of the doubleheader, helping the Knights' softball team to a 4-0, 10-1 sweep over visiting Alfred St. on Tuesday. First-year Danni Napoli and junior Alyssa Presutti added three hits each in game two in support of the three-hit pitching performance of sophomore Olivia Furness. Geneseo ran its win streak to four games and improved its record to 9-9 on the season.
Game 1: Geneseo 4, Alfred St. 0
Junior Alexis Kidder (1-1) had a four-hit shutout for her first win of the season and first career complete-game shutout. Geneseo combined five hits and six walks for the game, scoring two in the second and two in the fifth for the final margin.
In the second, sophomore Claire VanNewkirk led off with a double to left field. After a sacrifice and a walk to junior Abby Dennett, a wild pitch scored VanNewkirk, with Dennett advancing to third. Senior Courtney Budynas drove in Dennett with a sacrifice fly to put the Knights up 2-0.
The Knights added to the lead in the fifth. With one out and runners on first and second, Napoli singled to left, driving in a run. Back-to-back walks to senior Cat Krok and VanNewkirk scored another run, building the advantage to 4-0.
Kidder allowed only one walk, struck out three, and stranding five baserunners while lowering her team-leading ERA to 0.24 in 28 2/3 innings. In the most recent NCAA Division III statistical rankings (April 10), Kidder was third in the country with a 0.32 ERA. Geneseo's team ERA of 1.70 was 13th nationally.
Game 2: Geneseo 10, Alfred St. 1
Geneseo's offense came alive in the second game, compiling 14 hits with three doubles and five home runs behind starting pitcher Furness (2-4).
After allowing a first-inning tally, the Knights put five runs across in the second frame. Presutti and sophomore Tori Fahie opened the frame with back-to back doubles to score one. Two outs later, with Fahie and first-year Anna Merante (single, stolen base) on second and third, first-year Alyssa Persich, sophomore Emily Martin and Napoli notched consecutive base hits, scoring four runs to open a 5-0 lead.
The Knights added two more in the sixth. With Merante again aboard after being hit by a pitch, Motisi drove a ball well over the wall in left-center field for a 7-0 lead. It was Motisi's first collegiate career home run.
An inning later, Martin notched her first career home run with a lead-off shot to left field. In the same frame, with runners on base after consecutive hits by Napoli, first-year Taylor Fedor and Presutti, Motisi drove in two with a double to the gap in left center, closing out the scoring at 10-1.
Furness scattered three hits, walking only one and striking out four in her first career complete game. She was helped by some strong play in the field. In the bottom of the second and a runner on second, Junior Jacqueline Santilli made a sliding play to her right to stop a hard-hit grounder and threw out the runner from her knees for the third out. In the bottom of the third, shortstop Martin ranged well into foul territory behind third base to snag a foul pop-up.
Geneseo has a non-conference road date with Nazareth on Wednesday, April 13 before continuing with SUNYAC play with visits to Potsdam on Friday, April 15 and Plattsburgh on Saturday, April 16.
