HAMILTON, N.Y. – Dorothy Donaldson (Lakeland, FL) and Natalie Rawson (Palmdale, CA) each had a home run in the second game to give аIJʿª½±½á¹û a split of its non-conference game Wednesday at the Eaton Street Field. The Raiders (32-12) dropped the opener 9-0, before coming back with a 3-2 win in the nightcap.
аIJʿª½±½á¹û trailed 2-0 in the second game after Nicole Vitello hit a two-run homer in the second inning. The Raiders cut the deficit to one run with Rawson’s solo home run to lead off the fourth inning.
Rawson’s home run was her eighth of the season giving her 44 RBI, which ties the school single season record for RBI – previously set by Amanda Paolucci in 2001.
аIJʿª½±½á¹û won the game in the sixth inning when Rawson reached on an error, and Donaldson drilled a drive over the left field fence for a two-run homer. It was her 12th round tripper of the season.
Kirstie Kenton (Simi Valley, CA) started on the mound for the Raiders working the first four innings. She allowed four hits, two runs, struck out two and walked one. Kate Howard (Wheaton, IL) (9-5) picked up the victory in three innings of relief. She gave up one hit and struck out five.
In the opener, аIJʿª½±½á¹û managed only two hits off Binghamton’s Michelle Weeks. Mandi Perry (Fremont, NE) had a double in the third inning and Rawson singled in the sixth. Weeks (5-7) struck out eight and walked two.
Vitello and Sara Eppolito homered for the Bearcats, who had 10 hits against the Raiders.
Senior Elena Isaac (Chandler, AZ) started for the Raiders, but little support, as аIJʿª½±½á¹û committed seven errors. Isaac worked five innings, allowing six runs (one earned), striking out two and walking none. Kelsey Nordstrom (Salina, KS) pitched the sixth inning allowing four hits, three runs and striking out two.
GAME NOTE: Donaldson’s two RBI gives her 40 on the season – the fourth best single season total in school history.