IAC SOFTBALL: TIOGA POUNDS OUT 16-3 WIN OVER WATKINS GLEN IN SEASON OPENER (2023-03-30)

Valley Sports Report
WATKINS GLEN — Tioga scored multiple runs in every inning, and rolled to a season-opening, 16-3, five-inning win over Watkins Glen here Thursday afternoon in IAC softball action.

“It's great to be back on the field with the girls,” said Tioga coach Heather Klossner, coaching her first varsity game since 2021. “It was a good first game for everyone to get first-game jitters out and both pitchers to get time in the circle.

“And, everyone on the team got some swings, which is great,” she added.

The Lady Tigers pounded out 13 hits, and took advantage of seven base on ball issued by Lady Seneca pitchers, and four errors committed by their defense.

Senior MyKenzie Thetga stroked an RBI single, and sophomore Mckenzie Williams added a two-run single in the top of the first inning to give the Lady Tigers a quick 3-0 lead.

Freshman RaeAnne Feeko and sophomore Erin Luther rapped doubles in the top of the second to make it 4-0. Luther later scored on a passed ball to extend the lead to 5-0 after 1 1/2 innings.

After scoring a pair of unearned runs on a pair of errors, sandwiched around a walk, junior Megan Vance hit an RBI double to make it 8-0, and Thetga followed with another RBI double.

With two outs, junior Emily Bidwell laced a two-run single to cap Tioga’s six-run rally, and push the lead to 11-0.

Tioga scored three more runs in the top of the fourth inning, a rally capped by a two-run single by senior Felicia Lantz, to take a 14-1 lead.

Feeko and Thetga RBI singles in the top of the fifth to finish off Tioga’s scoring.

Feeko had three hits, including a pair of doubles, three runs scored, and one RBI, and Thetga had three hits and four RBI to pace Tioga at the plate, while Vance doubled and singled, scored four runs, and drove in one run, and Lantz singled twice, scored one run, and knocked in two runs.

Sophomore Erin Luther doubled, scored two runs, and drove in one run in the win, while Williams and Bidwell each singled and knocked in two runs, junior Chloe Gillette scored two runs, and junior Megan Shumway and junior Elizabeth Shaffer each crossed the plate once.

Luther earned the win for the Lady Tigers, allowing an unearned run in three hitless innings. She struck out three, and walked three.

Feeko finished off the game, allowing two runs on two hits, while striking out three and walking four.

Tioga hosts SVEC Monday.