IAC SOFTBALL: STRONG PITCHING, TIMELY HITTING LIFTS TIOGA TO SEASON-OPENING, 12-1, WIN AT NEWFIELD (2024-04-08)

 Valley Sports Report
NEWFIELD — Junior Erin Luther and sophomore RaeAnne Feeko combined on a 2-hitter, and seniors Emily Bidwell, and Megan Vance, and sophomore Lily Mezzatesta provided more than enough run support in Tioga’s season-opening, 12-1, win over Newfield here Monday afternoon in IAC South Small School softball action.

Luther allowed one run on one hit, while striking out nine and walking three to earn the win. Feeko struck out five and walked two, allowing one hit in three innings of scoreless relief to earn the save.

Feeko walked to lead off the game, and ended up scoring on a wild pitch to give the Tigers a quick 1-0 lead.

Tioga took a 2-0 lead in the second on a one-out triple by Christina Earley, who scored on a groundout off the bat of sophomore Vanessa Tunnicliff.

The Trojans answered with a run in the second inning to close the gap to 2-1, but Tioga’s bats heated up for the remainder of the game.

In the top of the third inning, junior Mckenzie Williams led off with a single, and moments later was on third base as the result of a double by Luther. After a wild pitch scored one run, Mezzatesta stroked an RBI single to right field to make it 4-1.

With two outs, Vance capped the rally with an RBI groundout to extend the lead to 5-1.

After Luther pitched her way out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the bottom of the third inning, Tioga added to its advantage in the top of the fourth inning with a two-run single by Mezzatesta, and a two-RBI double by Bidwell to make it 9-1. Another run scored on a Newfield error to stretch the lead to 10-1.

Mezzatesta lead-off triple in the top of the sixth inning keyed a two-run rally that provided the final margin.

Mezzatesta had three hits, including a triple, three runs scored, and three RBI to pace Tioga’s nine-hit attack, while Feeko singled twice and scored two runs, Bidwell doubled, and drove in three runs, and Vance had three RBI.

Luther doubled and scored two runs in the win, while Williams singled and scored two runs, Earley tripled and scored one run, Emily Shiner scored three runs, and Tunnicliff crossed the plate once.

Tioga returns to action Wednesday when it hosts Newfield.

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IN PHOTO: Tioga’s Erin Luther. … VSR STOCK PHOTO.