When you’re on, you’re on. University of Rochester’s Beth Ameno threw back-to-back complete game shutouts against the Rensselaer softball team Sunday, leading the Yellowjackets to 1-0 and 7-0 wins. Over 14 innings, Ameno struck out 15 and only surrendered six hits. Rochester was propelled to victory in game one when senior shortstop Jena Robertson began the fourth inning with a home run off of Red Hawk hurler sophomore Michelle Street.
Head Coach Erika Lewis said it was the best she has ever seen Ameno throw, and cited an “offense that didn’t make adjustments” as a huge contributing factor to the anemic day at the plate for the Red Hawks. But despite being shut out in back-to-back games, Lewis pointed out that it is all behind them now and added positively, “If we play the way we can play, we’ll be fine.” The Red Hawks’ record would support this.
In game one, Street was nearly as good as her opponent, Ameno, as she struck out 11, while only surrendering two hits. Of course, the second was the decisive home run. In fact, both hits came from Robertson, who also singled in the Yellowjacket first.
The Red Hawks were knocked out early in game two when Rochester hammered freshman pitcher Michelle Bianchetti for seven runs (six earned) over two and a third innings. In relief, Street reassumed the mound for the Red Hawks, striking out nine over the final four and two-thirds and only allowing two hits. Unfortunately for the Red Hawks, the cause was lost as they could not manage to score a run for the second straight game, falling 7-0.
With the sweep, Rochester improved to 18-5, and 6-0 in the Liberty League, and Rensselaer fell to 15-7, and 2-2 in the league.
Despite the disappointing day on Sunday, the Red Hawks didn’t have long to dwell on, being blanked over the weekend. On Monday, they faced off against cross-town rival Russell Sage in a doubleheader. Sage, which has not won a game yet this year, proved to be just what the girls needed to get back on the right track, managing just five hits in two games against Red Hawk pitching. Street and Bianchetti both earned complete game shutout victories, dominating an overmatched Sage team.
The Red Hawks took advantage of Sage’s early foibles, burying them beneath 11 unearned runs in the first inning of game one. The onslaught was led by a three-run home run by sophomore Julianne Bass. Street then closed the door, striking out 10 and allowing just two hits over the five innings of play.
In game two, Bianchetti held Sage to just three hits and struck out four over seven innings of work. The Red Hawks offense scored its two runs in the third. Sophomore shortstop Sara Finkbeiner got things going when she led off with a single. Senior captain Courtney Sweeney then executed a sacrifice bunt, putting Finkbeiner in scoring position. Junior captain Beth Gargon singled to score Finkbeiner, and then managed to reach second on the throw. Then, with two outs, freshman Natalie Gendron hit an RBI double to score Gargon, providing the Red Hawks with all the runs they would need in the game two triumph.
The Red Hawks walked away from the Sunday-Monday four game set with a record of 17-7 (2-2 League). Street was stellar in all three of her appearances, surrendering one run in 16 plus innings. Bianchetti also pitched well, rebounding nicely against Sage despite being hit hard against Rochester.
The Red Hawks will face off against Mount Saint Mary in doubleheader action at Doris Robison Field this Wednesday at 3:30 pm. Come out and show your support.
