GENESEO, N.Y. - The SUNY Geneseo softball team traveled to Nazareth on Thursday afternoon for an Empire 8 doubleheader, and came away with a split after winning the opening game 9-4. The Knights move to 19-7 overall this season and 9-3 in the Empire 8 while the Golden Flyers are now 11-8 overall and 5-3 in conference.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Geneseo came out firing, scoring eight runs in the top of the first inning of the opening game. Following back-to-back singles from Kaitlyn Schmitz and Brooke Fraas, Molly Griffin opened up the scoring with an RBI single, scroing Fraas. Tara Brochu, Gabriella Smith, Bella Nadzan, Hannah Olejniczak, Fraas, and Schmitz all went on to add at least one RBI in the first inning.
- Nazareth put three runs on the board in the bottom of the first, but Brochu put up the Knights ninth run of the game in the second inning with a home run. Geneseo went on to limit the Golden Flyers to one run for the final six innings to earn the 9-4 victory.
- Game two saw an offensive explosion from both teams, with the Knights falling by a score of 17-15. Geneseo put up three runs in top of the first, capitalizing on a pair of errors and a wild pitch. The Knights then added six runs in the top of the third inning, highlighted by a three-run home run from off the bat of Ray Schumacher.
- Trailing 14-11 heading to the final inning, the Knights came up with four runs to take the lead. The Knights quickly loaded the bases, then Lauren Bieniek gave Geneseo their first run of the inning with an RBI single. Brochu hit a sacrifice fly to pull within one run, then Schmitz came up clutch with a two-out, two RBI double to make it a 15-14 lead. Unfortunately, Geneseo couldn't hold the lead and ultimately fell, 17-15.
QUICK FACTS:
- Fraas and Brochu each recorded three hits in the first game for the Knights offense, then Griffin went 4-5 at the plate in game two, while Schmitz and Babich each chipped in three hits.
- Schmitz earned the win in game one by throwing a complete game and only allowing six hits on four runs.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Geneseo is set to host St. John Fisher on Saturday, April 19 at noon.