#2 Red Barons Sweep #3 Herkimer in Battle of the Nations Top JUCO's

The Corning Community College softball team, currently ranked #2 in the NJCAA National Poll, hosted #3 Herkimer CC on Sunday in a battle of two of the top teams in JUCO.  It was the Corning offense that was able to propel the Red Barons to a sweep and secured their #2 ranking by scores of 10-2 and 15-8.  

In game one, the Red Baron bats were consistent as Corning scored 2 runs in the 1st inning, 3 runs in the 2nd and 4 in the 3rd to take a commanding 9-0 lead heading into the 5th inning.  A walk and defensive miscue allowed Herk to score two runs in the top of the 5th but Corning answered with a run in the bottom of the 5th to make the score 10-2 and envoke the run rule.  Grace Vondracek went 4 for 4 in the opener with a triple and 3 RBI's while Jodie Burdick went 2 for 2.  Lexi Wood knocked in 3 RBI's and Grace Talbut added 2 RBI's.  Emily McCreery was in command from the circle as she threw a one-hitter with five strikeouts.  

In the nightcap, Herkimer had a 7-5 lead heading into the top of the 5th but Corning would erupt for 5 runs in part due to a Vondracek 3-run blast over the centerfield fence to give the Red Barons the lead for good.  Corning scored another 5 runs in the top of the 7th when Vondracek struck for another deep ball and Bella Benjamin capped off the scoring with a solo blast of her own.  Vondracek recorded 7 RBI's in the game and Kiarah Grover added a triple and 3 RBI's.  Jayden Hill earned the win allowing 7 hits in 7-innings of work and striking out five.  

With the sweep, Corning improves to 25-5 overall and 22-0 in Region III play.  Herkimer falls to 24-7-1 and a 22-2 Region III record.  The Red Barons have big road games this weekend as they travel to Mohawk Valley CC Saturday and Jefferson CC on Sunday.