Evinsky's Pitching Performance Leads Lady Lakers to Split with GCC

By Alex Pagliano

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. -- Freshman Elaina Evinsky (Spencerport, N.Y./Spencerport HS) tossed her first complete game victory, as the Finger Lakes Community College softball team managed a split of a doubleheader on Tuesday at Laker Softball Field with Genesee Community College. The Lakers improve to 3-11, while the Cougars move to 6-11.

In the opening game of the doubleheader, both teams would post a run in the opening frame. But, from there, Genesee Community College would score four unanswered runs, notching two in the second and the third innings. The Lakers would score once in both the fifth and sixth inning, but ultimately fell short, 6-3.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Lakers came from behind to win their third game of the season, 3-1. After allowing the (6-11) Cougars to score in the top of the fourth inning, the Lakers rallied back to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning. The Lakers would score twice in the bottom of the sixth inning, and in concert with the strong pitching performance from Evinsky, would never look back.

Finger Lakes Community College will return to action tomorrow, as the Lakers travel to Jamestown, N.Y. to challenge Jamestown Community College. The opening pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 3p.m.

Game 1 – Genesee Community College 6, Finger Lakes Community College 3

In the opening game of the doubleheader, the Lakers offense struggled to gain traction. Freshman pitcher Andrea Pursel contributed to that, as she went the distance and limited the Lakers to just four hits. In addition to allowing just four hits, Pursel struck out six hitters, while walking just one batter.

The Lakers would receive a hit apiece from Kelly Kier (Macedon, N.Y./Cirillo HS), Taylor Briggs (Afton, N.Y./Afton Central HS), Courtney Edger (Elmira Heights, N.Y./Edison HS), and Brittany Davis (Greece, N.Y./Greece Arcadia HS).

Freshman Rachel Mertens (Syracuse, N.Y/Henninger HS) struck out a game-high seven batters in defeat.

Game 2 – Finger Lakes Community College 3, Genesee Community College 1

The Lakers would receive a marvelous pitching performance from Elaina Evinsky in game two to record the victory. Evinsky went the distance, allowing just one earned run while striking out a career-high eight batters over seven innings. The freshman right-handed thrower only faced 28 batters.

The Cougars would take a brief lead in the top of the fourth, as Victoria Kramer drove in Britnee Hallett-Jonathan with an RBI single. But the Lakers would respond in the bottom half of the inning, as Brittany Davis took advantage of a fielder misjudgment, scoring teammate Tamara Robertson (Farmington, N.Y./Victor HS) to knot the game at one.

The Lakers would seal the game in the bottom of the sixth, posting two runs. Mertens tripled to deep right field, and was driven in on the next pitch by teammate Samantha German (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads HS). After a Robertson fielder's choice, Brittany Davis again delivered in the clutch. The Greece, N.Y. native singled to left field, and after an error, wound up on second as Robertson crossed the plate for the contest's final run.