Woyton tosses shutout as Softball splits with Russell Sage

Albany, NY—The MCLA softball team received a pair of solid performances off the mound as they split a non conference doubleheader with Russell Sage.  The Gators took the opener 2-1 while the Trailblazers earned a 1-0 shutout in game two.  The Trailblazers are now 3-18 overall while Sage drops to 8-14 overall.

Game One: Russell Sage 2, MCLA 1

In the opener, MCLA's Sarah Williams and Sage's Makayla Lindsey were outstanding.  Both went the distance and Lindsay had just enough offensive support to earn the win. 

Lindsay helped herself in the first inning with an RBI single off Williams for an early 1-0 lead.  Williams would hold the Gators at bay over the next three frames.  In the fifth, Sage would tack on a key insurance run on a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.

MCLA rallied in the sixth.  Lora Woyton singled to start things off and promptly came around to score on a couple of Gator miscues.  Her run made it 2-1 and the tying run was now on second base without an out.  A groundout moved the runner to third, but MCLA could not bring Avianna Ibrahim around and the score remained 2-1.

The Trailblazers would go quietly in the seventh and Russell Sage took the win. 

Lindsey allowed just four hits and struck out a pair of Trailblazers to record the win. 

Williams was the tough luck loser.  She went six innings, allowed just four hits, and struck out two herself.  MCLA's Sydney Mathews was the only player to record two hits.

Game Two: MCLA 1, Russell Sage 0

In the nightcap, the story was MCLA's Woyton.  The first year hurler went all seven innings, allowed just two hits, and struck out three Gators to record the shutout. 

The game was scoreless through six innings as Sage's Kadence Schluter was equally effective.  She finally ran into trouble in the top of the seventh however.  With one out, Nicole Main walked for MCLA.  Mathews followed with a single to move Main into scoring position. 

Ezmeralda Albright singled to load the bases and bring Maddie Teta to the dish.  The left handed hitter delivered an RBI single scoring Main and MCLA led 1-0.  The Trailblazers would strand three runners however and the game would head to the bottom of the seventh.

Woyton buckled down and worked around a leadoff baserunner to secure the win.  She struck out pinch hitter Isabella Vano with the tying run in scoring position giving MCLA the split.

Teta led the offense with a pair of hits.

The Trailblazers will look to carry the momentum into Friday's twinbill with Framingham State.  First pitch is scheduled for 1pm.