PITTSBURGH, Pa. – La Roche softball welcomed Alfred State on Saturday afternoon as the Redhawks celebrated three seniors in a pivotal doubleheader. In game one, a nine-run fourth propelled La Roche to victory, while in game two, an early burst by the red and white lifted the Redhawks to the sweep.
GAME ONE: La Roche 13 Alfred State 4 F/5
Alfred State would jump ahead immediately, delivering an RBI single in the top of the first to make it 1-0.
The Redhawks wasted no time moving ahead, scoring three in the bottom of the first to take the lead.
Cassidee Fitterer opened the scoring with an RBI double to tie the game 1-1, then Emma Bizay immediately followed with a two RBI single to give the red and white the edge.
Bizay pulled through again in the bottom of the third with her third RBI of the day, an RBI single to score Fitterer, making it 4-1.
The Pioneers would battle back in the top of the fourth, tying the game at 4-4 with an RBI single and a two RBI double.
La Roche's offense exploded in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring a single inning best in 2025, nine runs to storm ahead 13-4 and put the run-rule into effect.
In the frame, Brooke Murgenovich gave the Redhawks the lead back with a two RBI single to open the scoring, and was followed by an RBI fielder's choice from Anastacia Jacobs.
Finley Hohn delivered an RBI single, then Bizay reached on an error that scored one to make it 9-4.
Garrah Milochik would put the red and white up 11-4 with a two RBI single, another Pioneer error made it 12-4, then Ashley Huffman picked up an RBI groundout to close the scoring.
Klover Haberthier got the start and in the no decision, threw 3.1 innings, allowing three runs, four hits, two walks and struck out one.
Wade earned the victory in relief, allowing one run, two hits, one walk and struck out one.
Offensively, La Roche had 10 hits, with Wade, Hohn and Bizay all coming away with two each.
GAME TWO: La Roche 6 Alfred State 3
Once again, Alfred State started the scoring in the top of the first, this time picking up two runs on an RBI ground out and RBI single.
Like game one, La Roche responded right away, taking the lead with a three-run bottom half of the first inning.
Makenzie Formeck started the scoring with an RBI single, then Fitterer produced an RBI groundout to tie the game 2-2.
Bizay would bring home the leading run, her fourth RBI of the series to make it now 3-2.
La Roche was right back at it in the bottom of the second, when Wade scored on a Pioneer error, then Formeck drove in her second of the game with an RBI single to make it 5-2.
Alfred State would trim the deficit to 5-3 in the top of the fourth inning, producing a sacrifice fly.
The Redhawks would close the scoring in the bottom of the fourth when Wade produced a sacrifice fly of her own to make it 6-3.
Haberthier got the start in game two, this time getting the victory, throwing 4+ innings, allowing three runs, six hit and walked four.
Wade earned the save, throwing three hitless innings, striking out three.
Offensively, the Redhawks collected eight hits, with Formeck's 2-for-3 leading the way.
La Roche is right back on the diamond tomorrow, Monday, Apr. 28 when they face Geneva in non-conference play. The doubleheader is set to begin at 3:30 p.m.