IAC SOFTBALL: TIOGA BATTLES PAST UNION SPRINGS, 5-3 (April 8, 2026)

Valley Sports Report
TIOGA CENTER — Tioga watched a 3-0 lead slip away, but regrouped to defeat rival Union Springs, 5-3, in IAC softball action here Wednesday,

Irie Lynch singled to right to open the bottom of the fourth inning, but the Wolves’ Gracie Chalupnicki struck out the next two batters to apparently end any scoring threat.

RaeAnne Feeko had other ideas, however, and moved Lynch to second with a single to center. Both base runners advanced on steals, then Madelyn Rogers singled to left, scoring Lynch. Feeko would make it a 5-3 contest in the Tigers’ favor.

"The girls did great," said coach Stephanie Hills. "Bats were doing well. Defense was pretty sound. We stayed composed when the game got tied up. Kate pitched amazing like normal. Proud of them all."

Union Springs picked up a two-out base hit in the fifth and a single to lead off the seventh, but was unable to push any runs across.

Lilly Mezzatesta singled in the fifth, Mya Freese walked and Rogers singled in the sixth, but to no avail.

The Tigers picked up their initial run in the first after Feeko was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on Rogers’ sacrifice bunt and scored on Kate Kithcart’s base hit.

Tioga extended its lead to 3-0 in the third on back-to-back singles by Rogers and Kithcart and a Mezzatesta double.

The Wolves recovered to tie the game in the fourth on a walk, double, error and single.

Tioga would outhit Union Springs, 9-5, to offset a pair of errors.

Rogers was 3-for-3 with a run and two RBI, Mezzatesta was 2-for-2 with two RBI, and Kithcart went 2-for-3 with a run and RBI. Feeko had a hit and two runs, and Lynch tacked on a hit and a run.

Kithcart scattered five hits and one walk while striking out four. She allowed just one earned run.

Chalupnicki struck out nine batters, but surrendered nine hits and three walks.

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PHOTOS BY MIRANDA SZYMANSKI.

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