The Genesee Community College softball team opened Western New York Athletic Conference play on Thursday afternoon with a two-game sweep of visiting Alfred State College.
Alishia Foss pitched well in game one, allowing five runs while striking out three in a complete game effort. Her offense built an early lead, scoring twice in the bottom of the first inning, including an RBI triple from Miki Kawaguchi. The Lady Cougars led 8-5 in the fifth inning and won via the eight run mercy rule after putting together a five-run fifth. They sent all nine batters to the plate and got a two-run single from Kawaguchi and a sacrifice fly from Amanda McGowan. Genesee won game one 13-5.
Kawaguchi finished the game 2-4 with 3 RBI’s, Alex Miller went 2-3 with four runs scored and Sabrina Wilhoite went 3-3 with three runs scored.
Alex Miller delivers a hit against Alfred State College
In game two, Genesee answered a top of the first inning run from Alfred State with a three-run home half of the inning, highlighted by an RBI single from McGowan, to take the early lead. The Lady Cougars were a run away from another mercy rule victory, leading 11-4 in the 6th inning before Alfred State scored seven times to tie the game at 11. GCC went quietly in the sixth and the seventh innings, and the game went into extra frames.
Both teams exchanged a run in the eight inning. Alfred State kept the pressure on with a run in the ninth and put two runners on base with a chance to extend the lead. GCC pitcher Abbey Rocque kept the Lady Cougars in the game by striking out the next three hitters, keeping it a one-run game. Genesee quickly tied the game in the ninth on an RBI single from Foss and then won the game when Wilhoite hit a line drive to center that was dropped, scoring Foss. GCC won game two 14-13.
Members of the GCC softball team celebrate #8 Sabrina Wilhoite's game-winning hit
Rocque pitched the entire game and also delivered a two-run double. Lindsay Chatt was 2-5 in game two, scoring twice and driving in a run. Kawaguchi was 2-5 with two runs scored and Chelsea Lynch was 2-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.
With the wins, Genesee is now 2-0 in conference play and 9-9 overall. They will play again on Tuesday when they host Erie Community College at 3:30pm.
