Corning Sweeps Generals Despite Strong Offensive Effort in Opener

HERKIMER, N.Y. – The Herkimer Generals softball team dropped both games of a home doubleheader to Corning Community College on Saturday, falling 10-6 in the opener before suffering a 16-4 defeat in the nightcap.

Despite the losses, the Generals combined for 19 hits over the two games, highlighted by a three-hit performance from Alexis Broderick in game one.

Game One: Corning 10, Herkimer 6

Corning jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with runs in each of the first two innings, but the Generals answered in a big way during the bottom of the second.

Herkimer erupted for five runs on six hits to take a 5-2 advantage. Emma Carlton delivered the biggest hit of the inning with a two-run single, while the Generals strung together quality at-bats to seize the momentum.

The lead was short-lived as Corning responded with a solo home run from Makenna Dunbar in the third before reclaiming the lead with a four-run fourth inning. RBI hits from Dunbar, Stella White, Eliza Lane, and Raven Gonzales put the Red Barons back in front, and Corning continued to add insurance runs the rest of the way, including Dunbar's second home run of the game in the seventh.

Olivia Perry went the distance in the circle for Herkimer, striking out nine batters over seven innings.

The Generals totaled 13 hits in the contest. Broderick paced the offense by going 3-for-4, while Autumn Roberts and Emma Powers each recorded multiple-hit performances.

Game Two: Corning 16, Herkimer 4

Herkimer came out swinging in the nightcap, scoring four runs in the opening inning to take an early lead.

Grace Neville opened the scoring with an RBI single before Alexis Broderick added another run-scoring single. Olivia Perry drove in a run with a groundout, and Brianna Molter capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to give the Generals a 4-0 advantage.

Corning answered immediately, exploding for seven runs in the second inning to erase the deficit and take control of the game. Erika David's two-run double highlighted the rally as the Red Barons built a 9-4 lead.

The visitors added three more runs in the third inning behind RBI hits from David and Stella White along with a sacrifice fly by Julianna Gingrich before pulling away for the 16-4 victory.

Lauren Kelly, Neville, Autumn Roberts, Emma Powers, Broderick, and Emma Carlton each recorded a hit for Herkimer. Molter, Neville, Broderick, Carlton, and Perry each finished with one RBI.

Corning collected 16 hits in the game, led by leadoff hitter Dominika Diaz, who went a perfect 4-for-4 with two stolen bases. David and Gingrich each drove in three runs as the Red Barons completed the doubleheader sweep.