Pair of Late Rallies Helps Softball Sweep Niagara CCC

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. — Thanks to a pair of late-game rallies, the Finger Lakes Community College softball team swept its doubleheader with Niagara County Community College Saturday afternoon at FLCC's turf complex.

The Lakers (6-16) rallied from a 9-5 deficit to win the opener, 11-10, before once executing a late comeback in the nightcap, rallying from deficits of 5-3 and 8-7 en route to a 9-8 victory.

Sophomore Ava Breuer (Fillmore, NY/Fillmore) belted a three-run home run as part of a four-run sixth inning as the Lakers took a 10-9 lead in game one.

Niagara CC (3-3) tied it in the top of the seventh, but freshman Clare Kingsfield (Forestville, NY/Forestville) hit a one-out triple and scored the winning run one batter later when sophomore Mia Bresadola (Camillus, NY/West Genesee) reached on an error.

Kingsfield went 2-for-3 with three runs scored, sophomore Karena Ward (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport) hit a solo homer, and classmate Malori Waag (Cherry Creek, NY/Pine Valley) drove in a run, scored a run and swiped two bases in game one.

Sophomore Lacey Shuttleworth (Scio, NY/Scio) allowed one run on three hits over four effective innings of relief to earn the win.

The Lakers started fast in game two as Breuer's RBI triple scored sophomore Hannah Capacci (Seneca Falls, NY/Mynderse Academy) and freshman Reagan Seelye (Elmira Heights, NY/Thomas A. Edison) added an RBI groundout as FLCC took a 2-0 first inning lead.

Niagara CCC plated a run in the bottom of the first, but Ward's RBI single up the middle scored freshman Deanna Palmer (Auburn, NY/Auburn) for a 3-1 Laker lead going into the bottom of the third.

The Thunderwolves scored two runs in the third to tie the game and tacked on two runs in the fifth to seize a 5-3 lead, but FLCC responded with four runs on RBI groundouts from Capacci and Breuer and a pair of wild pitches to go up 7-5 heading to the bottom of the sixth.

Niagara CCC reclaimed the lead with two runs in the bottom of the frame before FLCC once again rallied in the seventh. Sophomore Alyn Watts (Naples, NY/Marcus Whitman) reached on a fielder's choice and scored on Kingsfield's RBI single as FLCC led 9-8 heading into the last half inning.

Shuttleworth worked around a leadoff double to close out the win. Kingsfield threw out a runner at the plate for the second out and Shuttleworth induced a groundout to end the game.

Breuer was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI, Ward was 3-for-4 with an RBI, Kingsfield was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, and Capacci was 1-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base in the second game.

FLCC travels to Niagara CCC for a doubleheader Sunday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.