IAC SOFTBALL: TIOGA TOPS SOUTHERN CAYUGA, 10-4, FOR SEVENTH STRAIGHT WIN (2024-05-06)

Valley Sports Report
AURORA, N.Y. — Tioga built a six-run lead, staved off a Southern Cayuga rally in the fifth inning, and put the game away in the seventh inning in a 10-4 win — its seventh consecutive victory — here Monday afternoon in IAC Small School softball action.

The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning on a two-out RBI double by senior Emily Bidwell to score sophomore RaeAnne Feeko, who reached base on a lead-off single.

Tioga extended its lead to 5-0 with four runs in the top of the fourth inning in a rally that included six hits, including a three-RBI double by junior McKenzie Williams to score sophomore Lily Mezzatesta, freshman Vanessa Tunnicliff, and Feeko, who led off the inning with consecutive singles, and an RBI single by Bidwell.

Feeko tacked on a run with a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning to give the Tigers a 6-0 lead, but the Chiefs countered with four runs in the bottom of the inning to close the gap to 6-4. Southern Cayuga had the bases loaded, but Tioga starter junior Erin Luther registered an inning-ending strikeout to limit the damage.

Luther struck out the side in order in the bottom of the sixth, and Tioga took firm control of the game in the top of the seventh inning with four runs.

Mezzatesta and Feeko each singled, sandwiched around a walk to Tunnicliff, to load the bases in the top of the seventh, and with one out Luther helped her own cause with a two-RBI double into center field to make it 8-4.

Sophomore Emily Shiner added an RBI single to make it 9-4, and Luther scored the final run of the rally on a passed ball.

Luther pitched around a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh to nail down the win.

Luther allowed four runs on five hits, while striking out 10 and walking five in seven innings to earn the win.

Feeko, who had 15 hits in 18 at-bats last week, continued her torrid hitting with a 4-for-5 effort that included a home run, three runs scored, and one RBI.

Williams added three hits, including a double, two runs scored, and three RBI for the Tigers, while Shiner had three hits, and one RBI, Bidwell doubled and singled, and drove in three runs, and Luther doubled and singled, scored one run, and knocked in two runs.

Mezzatesta singled twice and scored two runs in the win, and Tunnicliff singled and scored two runs.

Tioga, now 13-2, travels to Newark Valley Tuesday.

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IN PHOTO: Tioga’s RaeAnne Feeko. … VSR STOCK PHOTO.


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