Athletics

Herkimer and Jefferson battle to a split in 4 game weekend series

Softball Action 3 vs Jefferson

Herkimer, NY and Watertown, NY - 2 days, 2 cities, 2 very different doubleheaders.

On Saturday afternoon in Herkimer, the #2 ranked Herkimer Generals swept the SUNY Jefferson Cannoneers by scores of 8-0 and 10-1, both in 5 innings. But SUNY Jefferson fought back on their home field on Sunday, handing the undefeated Generals their first two losses of the year. The Cannoneers won 10-8 in 8 innings in the Sunday opener, and then won the nightcap by a score of 9-4.

On Saturday, Kayla Young (Baldwinsville, NY) hit a walk off 3 -run home run in the bottom of the fifth to highlight a 5 run outburst which clinched the win. Maiya Reinhart (Batavia, NY) also added a home run while Aubrey Ketcham (Otisville, NY) and Madison Ihnat (Boca Raton, FL) added 2 hits apiece. Ihnat handled the work in the circle for the Generals, getting the win while only allowing 4 hits in her 5 innings of work and struck out 2.

The Generals offense got going early and often in Game 2 on Saturday, scoring in 4 out of the 5 innings to get the 10-1 win. Aubrey Ketcham smacked 2 doubles and a triple in her 3-3 game at the plate while Emily Beames (South Glens Falls, NY) and Kassandra Granobles (Miami, Florida) each added 2 hits apiece. Hannah DeRock (Hunt, NY) earned the win as she went 5 innings, giving up only one run and striking out 3.

As the series shifted to Watertown on Sunday, the Cannoneers rallied twice in Game 1, scoring 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th to tie the game at 6 and then scoring 4 in the bottom of the 8th to grab the dramatic win after the Generals plated 2 in the top half to take the lead. Maiya Reinhart and Kayla Young homered for the second straight day and Madison Ihnat had 2 hits and 3 RBI's.

The Cannoneers took the momentum from their comeback win in Game 1 and jumped out to a 9-1 lead over Herkimer in Sunday's nightcap to cruise to the 9-4 win. Alexis Garrison (Clifton Park, NY) went 2 -4 with a home run in the loss while Beames, Young, and Aubrey Ketcham each pitched in with 2 hits.

The Generals, who have dropped to # 3 in the latest NJCAA Division III poll, will now have to regroup and they will now head to Carrier Park in Syracuse, NY on Wednesday afternoon to take on the undefeated and #1 ranked team in the nation, the Corning CC Spartans. The games, which will take place at the site of the NJCAA Division III Softball Championships which will be held in late May, are set to start at 3:00 PM.