Generals Drop Doubleheader to Erie

HERKIMER, N.Y. – The Herkimer College softball team came up short in both games of its doubleheader against SUNY Erie on Sunday, falling 9-4 in the opener before dropping the nightcap, 6-1.

Game One: Erie 9, Herkimer 4

The Generals struck first in the opening inning when Alexis Broderick lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home the game's first run.

Erie answered immediately in the bottom of the first as Amelia Potter and Haley Lerner each drove in a run to give the Kats a 2-1 advantage.

Herkimer regained the lead in the second inning. Grace Neville delivered an RBI single before Autumn Roberts added a sacrifice fly to put the Generals ahead 3-2.

The lead held until the fourth when Erie broke the game open. Carly Fraser started the rally with an RBI single before Potter delivered a two-run double. Lerner capped the inning with another RBI groundout as the Kats pulled away for the 9-4 victory.

Olivia Perry went the distance in the circle for Herkimer, striking out six batters over six innings.

Offensively, Roberts and Emma Powers each recorded two hits to lead the Generals. Neville, Roberts, Broderick, and Emma Carlton each drove in a run. Herkimer also played a clean defensive game, committing no errors, with Broderick handling a team-high seven defensive chances.

Erie finished with 14 hits, led by Ashlyn Pignone, Natalie Witt, and Fraser, who each collected three hits. Potter and Lerner drove in three runs apiece for the Kats.

Game Two: Erie 6, Herkimer 1

Erie completed the sweep with a 6-1 victory in the second game.

The Kats opened the scoring in the first inning on an RBI single by Potter, but the Generals answered in the bottom half as Broderick lifted another sacrifice fly to even the score at 1-1.

The game remained tied until the fifth inning when Erie broke through. Pignone tripled to drive in the go-ahead run before Fraser followed with an RBI single to extend the lead. The Kats added insurance runs late to secure the win.

Emma Powers pitched a complete game for the Generals, allowing six runs while striking out two over seven innings.

Autumn Roberts led Herkimer offensively with two of the team's four hits, while Broderick accounted for the Generals' lone RBI. Defensively, Herkimer continued its strong play in the field, turning a double play and finishing error-free. Roberts led the team with seven defensive chances.

Potter paced the Erie offense with a perfect 4-for-4 performance at the plate. Pignone and Adrianna Martinez each drove in two runs as the Kats once again totaled 14 hits in the victory.