The Lady Raiders Softball team got their 2017 season started at home against the Cayuga Spartans on Wednesday. FM dropped the 1st game of the double header 9-0, but bounced back to win Game 2 in extra innings, 3-2.
Photo: Emily Towne delivers a pitch in Game one and 2nd baseman Morgan Wilson prepares for a play.
In Game 1, the Raiders had a slow start and Cayuga took advantage leading 6-0 after 2 innings. FM settled in and didn't allow a single run in the 3rd. Cayuga managed to score one more run in the 4th and two more in the 6th to defeat FM 9-0 in 6 innings.
Emily Towne got the start for the Raiders in the circle and went the distance. She allowed 7 hits and struck out two. Towne and Gabrielle Smith each had singles for the Raiders.
In Game 2, the Lady Raiders bounced back and got the bats swinging as they took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Cayuga answered with a run in the 2nd inning, and tied the game in the 5th at 2-2. Cayuga had its best chance in the bottom of the 7th inning when they led off with a triple. Megan Patterson caught a hard line drive at third base and was able to tag the runner at third for a double play and we were headed to extra innings.
FM's offense was quiet until the 8th inning when Emily Towne started out at second base for the international tie breaker rule. Patterson singled with one out, moving Towne to third. Gabrielle Smith then laid down a perfect RBI bunt to score Towne for a 3-2 lead. Smith settled in on the mound and forced a 1-2-3 inning to secure the Raider victory.
The FM offense scattered 5 hits in Game 2. Patterson led the offense with a double, single and 2 RBIs. Julie Hampton, Gabrielle Smith, and Braelin Aldi each had singles. Gabrielle Smith went the distance on the mound for FM working in and out of jams, giving up 8 hits and allowing just two runs, while striking out two.
The Lady Raiders look for another win when they travel to play Tompkins Cortland CC on April 18th.
