OLEAN, N.Y. - La Roche softball hit the road on Sunday to take on Alfred State to open AMCC play, but it was the host Pioneers getting the better of the Redhawks, sweeping the doubleheader.
GAME ONE: Alfred State 13 LRU 8
La Roche showed resilience at the plate but could not overcome an early deficit in a 13–8 loss to Alfred State.
Alfred State took control in the opening inning, capitalizing on a combination of hits and defensive miscues to score seven runs and put La Roche on its heels early. Despite the rough start, the Redhawks responded in the second inning, taking advantage of an error to plate two runs and begin chipping away at the lead.
La Roche continued to battle back in the middle innings. In the fourth, a sacrifice fly from Cassidee Fitterer and a two-run single by Finley Hohn cut the deficit to 7–5, swinging momentum back toward the Redhawks. Alfred State answered in the bottom half with a three-run home run, but La Roche refused to back down.
The Redhawks again closed the gap in the fifth inning, as Maura Wade delivered a two-run single to make it 10–7. Wade led the offensive effort with two hits and three RBIs, while Taylor Young and Klover Haberthier each recorded three-hit games. Brooke Murgenovich and Ashlee Bair also added multiple hits as La Roche finished with 15 total hits.
However, Alfred State added insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings to extend its lead. La Roche managed one final run in the seventh on another RBI single from Wade, but the comeback attempt fell short.
GAME TWO: Alfred State 6 LRU 5
The Redhawks struck first in the opening inning, as Finley Hohn delivered a two-run single to give La Roche an early 2–0 lead. Alfred State quickly responded, capitalizing on defensive miscues to score four runs in the bottom half and take a 4–2 advantage.
La Roche answered back in the second inning when Brooke Murgenovich drove in a run with a single, cutting the deficit to 4–3. Alfred State added a run on a sacrifice fly later in the inning, maintaining a narrow edge.
The Redhawks continued to fight and found a breakthrough in the fourth inning. Taking advantage of another error, La Roche plated two runs to even the score at 5–5, showcasing persistence and timely pressure on the basepaths.
Klover Haberthier kept La Roche within striking distance in the circle, going the distance while allowing six runs, four earned, and working through multiple baserunners. The defense and pitching combined to hold Alfred State scoreless through the middle innings, giving the offense opportunities to regain control.
The decisive moment came in the sixth inning when Alfred State used a bunt single to bring home what proved to be the game-winning run. La Roche threatened late but was unable to push across the tying run in the final frame.
Offensively, the Redhawks totaled 12 hits, with Hohn leading the way with two RBIs, while Murgenovich and Ashlee Bair each contributed key runs driven in.