JOHN GALLAGHER
SPORTS EDITOR
The Lady Barons softball team kept the momentum going in a doubleheader March 29, dominating the La Roche College Redhawks 10-1. The day marked the first time in program history that the female squad swept an AMCC conference opponent.
After overcoming La Roche 3-0 in their first matchup of the afternoon, Franciscan got the bats going early in this one. Entering the second inning tied 1-1, the Lady Barons registered three unanswered runs, and attained a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Freshman outfielder Kathleen Thompson’s RBI double to left field scored two for the women. She later crossed home plate herself for another run, when freshman first baseman Ashley Kondracki sent a single to right field.
After a scoreless third inning for both teams, Franciscan blew the game open in the bottom of the fourth. Their six-run, four hit inning all but put the game away. Thompson was walked, stole second, then scored on freshman catcher Kayla Anderson’s RBI. Anderson was scored by a Kondracki RBI double to right.
Two batters later, freshman second baseman Anna Fluharty send the ball over the left field fence for a three-run home run, scoring sophomore third baseman Anna Ames and senior pitcher Jordan Cunningham. Sophomore outfielder Anna King struck out bunting to end the productive inning.
The game ended after a scoreless La Roche College fifth inning, capping a ten hit victory for the Lady Barons, their sixth win on the season and second on the day. Freshman pitcher Jalyn Effertz turned in a fine effort from the mound, giving up six hits and only a single run over five frames. She also earned a strikeout in 22 batters faced.
The Lady Barons next take on Medaille College on April 8. The doubleheader will feature games at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.