women's softball pitcher in mid motion

In a Schedule Change, Tartans Split with #9 Rochester

(REDLANDS, Calif.) - The Carnegie Mellon University softball program picked up its second win against a ranked opponent in its four-year history when it split action with ninth-ranked University of Rochester in Redlands, California, on Monday, March 7. The Tartans were supposed to play the University of Redlands on Sunday, March 6, but the double header was canceled due to injuries to the Bulldogs. On Monday, the Tartans topped Rochester 9-1 in five innings before falling 11-8 in game two and are now 4-3 for the season.

Game 1 - W, 9-1

Sophomore Amanda Smith (New Cumberland, Pa. / Trinity) earned the victory in the circle after pitching five full innings and shutting down the Rochester lineup. Smith recorded seven strikeouts and scattered three hits in her second outing of the season.

Offensively, five Tartans recorded more than one hit with seniors Summer Faille (Thousand Oaks, Calif. / Westlake) and Megan Hu (Katy, Texas / Seven Lakes) each recording three RBIs.

The Tartans took a 3-0 lead in the third inning with Hu singling in two runs on the third straight hit of the inning for the team. After two more singles, Faille hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Rochester picked up one run in the top of the fourth before the Tartans pounded out another four hits in the bottom half of the inning to score five runs. With two outs, senior Piper Johnson (Riverside, Calif. / Martin Luther King) singled through the left side with the bases loaded to score two causing a pitching change for the Yellowjackets. The next batter walked to load the bases with everyone advancing on a passed ball to add to the scoreline. The final two runs of the inning came off the bat of Faille who singled up the middle.

The game-winning run was pushed across the plate when Hu singled to left field after freshman Libby Eichberger (Aurora, Ill. / Metea Valley) opened the inning with a single and advanced to third after a groundout and an infield single by junior Tessa Bruneau (Edgewater Park, N.J. / Holy Cross Prep).

Game 2 - L, 11-8

In game two, the Tartans took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with Rochester tying the game in its half of the inning. Carnegie Mellon then put four runs on the board in the second inning to lead 5-1, capitalizing on a Rochester error and three hits, scoring all four runs with two outs.

In the third inning, the bats came alive for the Yellowjackets, as they pounded out eight hits to score eight runs while the Tartans made three errors in the inning.

The Tartans chipped away at the now 9-5 deficit to trail 9-7 after the fourth inning and 9-8 after the fifth inning. Hu collected another single that scored the two runs in the fourth and freshman Faith Lawrence (Peachtree Corners, Ga. / Norcross) picked up her second career hit and first triple before scoring on a throwing error by the second baseman who overthrew third base on the play.

Freshman Maya Goodwin (Camden, N.J. / Leap Academy) got three quick outs in the bottom of the fifth but later surrendered two runs on three hits and an error in the bottom of the sixth that cushioned Rochester's lead at 11-8.

The Tartans threatened in the top of the seventh with back-to-back singles by Johnson and junior Izzy Bermudez (Austin, Texas / Dripping Springs). After a fielder's choice eliminated Johnson at third base, Faille walked to load the bases.

A line drive by junior Emily Finger (Aurora, Ill. / Metea Valley) ended in an unassisted double play by the shortstop to end the game.

The Tartans return to the field on Tuesday, March 8, against Cal Lutheran with a double header starting at 1:00 p.m.