CU Softball Preview - at University of Rochester/RIT (4/11-12)

Kaelyn Buehler

Softball | 4/10/2026 10:00:00 AM

It has been a week of schedule changes already and that runs into the weekend for the Clarkson University Softball team, as the Golden Knights will still face University of Rochester on Saturday but had their Friday doubleheader against RIT shifted to Sunday.

Live Stats (at Rochester)
Live Video (at Rochester)
Live Stats (at RIT)
Live Video (at RIT)

The Series: Rochester is 20-5 in the all-time matchup dating back to Clarkson's first season in 2014, though the two teams split a year ago in Potsdam thanks to a pair of home runs from Lexi Rydelek. Clarkson is 19-7 all-time against RIT, including a sweep in 2025.

Key Stats for Clarkson (2-15, 0-2 Liberty League): Though the Knights are off to a tough start due to inexperience, there have been several bright spots, including a number of good starts from the Class of 2029. Kelsea Flanagan's return from injury has seen the first-year collegiate hit .556 in eight games overall, including a pair of home runs. Ivy Borkoski has also missed time, but she is hitting .360 in nine contests. Among the regulars in the lineup, Ryleigh Fontana is batting .361 and Ry Garcia has hit .310. Emily Martin also pushed her average up 54 points last week as she was named Liberty League Rookie of the Week.

Key Stats for Rochester (13-5, 2-0 Liberty League): Not that she dropped off by much a year ago, but Riley Laygo has certainly returned to her 2024 form when she was named Liberty League Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Laygo is hitting .492/.507/.877 with 14 extra-base hits (five home runs) and 11 stolen bases. Laygo leads a strong offense from the Yellowjackets, which is hitting a combined .364/.441/.567. Jensen Sminchak is batting .434/.483/.774 with 10 extra-base hits and Ally Kim is reaching base at a .451 clip, leading to her team-highs of 15 steals and 22 runs scored. The Yellowjackets have swiped 55 bases in 59 attempts in 18 games.

Key Stats for RIT (8-10, 0-2 Liberty League): A pair of first-year collegians have helped bolster the Tigers' offense in 2026 as both Taryn Jones and Madison Passineau are off to solid starts through the first half of the year. Jones leads the team with 20 runs batted in thanks to a .396/.450/.566 slash line and Passineau isn't far behind at .340/.397/.509. Sophomore Kate Carlone tops both in average and OBP at .411 and .459. Though she does not have as much time in the circle as RIT's other two pitchers, McKenzie Blair has been the most effective hurler for the Tigers with 24 strikeouts in 27.1 innings of work for a 2.56 earned run average.

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Players Mentioned

#23 Lexi Rydelek: IF; 5' 7"; Junior; R/R

#0 Ry Garcia: P/IF; 5' 4"; Freshman; R/R

#4 Ivy Borkoski: IF; 5' 4"; Freshman; R/R

#9 Ryleigh Fontana: OF; 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R

#18 Emily Martin: OF; 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R

#25 Kelsea Flanagan: C/IF; 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#23 Lexi Rydelek
: 5' 7"; Junior; R/R
: IF

#0 Ry Garcia
: 5' 4"; Freshman; R/R
: P/IF

#4 Ivy Borkoski
: 5' 4"; Freshman; R/R
: IF

#9 Ryleigh Fontana
: 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R
: OF

#18 Emily Martin
: 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R
: OF

#25 Kelsea Flanagan
: 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R
: C/IF