Softball | 5/1/2010 3:50:33 PM

Click here for game one stats

Click here for game two stats

ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT softball team (17-19, 6-8 Empire 8) clinched a spot in the 2010 Empire 8 Tournament after splitting a doubleheader against Stevens (8-28, 1-13 Empire 8) in the regular season final for both teams on Saturday afternoon at RIT Field. Stevens won game one 6-3, while RIT roared back to win game two, 8-0 in six innings.

RIT and Elmira both finished 6-8 in Empire 8 play, but the Tigers own the tiebreaker over the Soaring Eagles. Elmira lost a pair of games to Ithaca on Saturday. The Tigers will be the No. 4 seed in the Empire 8 Tournament next weekend.

Freshman hurler Brittany Kemp (Dansville, NY/Wayland-Cohocton) struck out 18 batters in 8 2/3 innings on the afternoon. In game two, Kemp hit a grand slam and had a no-hit bid broken up by Lauren Hurley with two outs in the sixth inning. Kemp threw a one-hitter, tying her career-high with 11 strikeouts. Kemp also struck out seven batters in 2 2/3 innings of relief in game one.

Kemp crushed a pitch from Molly Herforth with one out in the top of the third inning over the fence in left center field for her first grand slam and team-leading fourth home run of the season.

Tori Nadow (Charlton, MA/Shepherd Hill) was 3-for-3 with a double, walk and two runs scored for RIT. Emily Courtney (Berlin, CT/Kingswood-Oxford) was 2-for-4 with a double, run scored, and two runs batted in.

The Tigers could not solve Stevens hurler Amanda Petrocelli in game one. RIT recorded just four hits in the opening game, including a two-run double by Emily McPherson (Pompey, NY/Pompey). Shannon McCormick (Auburn, NY/Auburn) was 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base.

Stevens took advantage of three RIT errors in the top of the first inning of game one, scoring four times. Naomi Sacks and Victoria Webber had two hits apiece for the Ducks, while Clair Strom hit a solo home run to give Stevens a 6-0 lead.

The win was the first for the Ducks in Empire 8 play.

RIT will play at either Alfred or Ithaca in game one of the double elimination Empire 8 Tournament on Friday.