GAMBIER, Ohio—The Allegheny College softball team clinched its spot in the 2018 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Championships with a doubleheader sweep of Kenyon College on the road Thursday (April 26).
The NCAC berth marks the first appearance for the Gators wince 2015.
The Gators won game one 7-3 and game two 8-1. The Gators improved to 18-11 overall and 10-4 in NCAC play with the wins.
Game One – Allegheny 7, Kenyon 3
After a scoreless first, the Gators took advantage of walks in the second to plate three runs.
Jessica Zavolta started the inning with a walk. Kyliegh Cason then reached safely on a fielder's choice as Zavolta beat the throw to second.
Jessica Valerino moved the two along the bases on a groundout.
Samantha Valera followed up with a hit that dropped into shallow right field as Zavolta scored the game's first run.
Rachel Ramsey was walked to load the bases. The third walk of the inning, issued to
Maria DiDonato, brought Cason home for the second run.
Kelly Lafferty hit a grounder through the right side that scored Valera for the Gators' third run of the inning.
The Ladies made up some ground in the bottom of the frame as they scored one to cut the lead to 2-1. In the third, the Ladies added a pair of runs to tie it at three.
Ramsey led off the top of the fourth by being hit by a pitch. After she moved to second on a wild pitch, DiDonato hit into an error to put runners on the corners. DiDonato stole second, setting up a two-RBI single by Lafferty to put the Gators back out in front, 5-3. With Lafferty at second, Zavolta hit a double to deep center field, bringing Lafferty around to make it 6-3.
Then Gators added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. With one out, Valera singled, and moved to second on a Ramsey sac bunt. DiDonato then singled to bring Valera home, making it 7-3 heading into the final half frame.
Pitcher
Kala Mahen was cool as a cucumber in the bottom of the seventh, retiring the Ladies in order to seal the win.
Mahen collected her sixth win of the season, allowing eight hits and three runs with five strikeouts.
Valera went two-of-three with two runs and a RBI. Lafferty had a pair of hits and a pair of RBI. DiDonato also had a pair of hits to go with a run batted in.
Game Two – Allegheny 8, Kenyon 1
The Gators produced a run in the top of the first. Lafferty led the game off with a single up the middle. After she moved to second on a passed ball, Zavolta singled to center, scoring Lafferty.
The lead was short lived however, as the Ladies tied it in the bottom of the frame.
The Gators loaded the bases with one out in the second. Valera and DiDonato hit back-to-back singles, followed by a walk to Lafferty.
Jessica Gordon then earned a walk on a full count pitch to bring Valera home.
Hayley Behr doubled over the center fielder's head, scoring DiDonato and Lafferty to make it 4-1. A Zavolta sac fly brought it to 5-1 as Gordon crossed the plate.
Valerino led off the third with a single to right field. After Valera laid down a sac bunt, Ramsey singled up the middle to move Valerino to third. Valerino then advanced home on a wild pitch to make it 6-1 in favor of the Gators.
In the fourth, Behr reached on a fielder's choice. Zavolta followed up a double off the 230-foot out center field wall, bringing Behr around to third. Valerino singled with two outs, scoring Behr and Zavolta to make it 8-1.
The Ladies threatened in the bottom of the sixth with two outs, but DiDonato threw a rocket home from center to get a runner at the plate after a bloop Kenyon single.
Victoria Vradenburg held the fort in the bottom of the seventh, retiring the side for the win.
The win marked the seventh for Vradenburg, the most for a Gator since 2015. She allowed just one run on five hits with three strikeouts.
Zavolta went three-for-three with a run and a pair of runs batted in. Lafferty had a pair of hits to go with a pair of runs. Behr and Valerino also had two hits and two RBI with a run scored. Ramsey had a pair of hits in the day.
The Gators are back in action Sunday (April 29) for their regular season finale and Senior Day against Denison University.
