The vast improvement Rye’s softball team showed in the second half of the regular season carried over into the Garnets’ playoff opener Thursday.
Rye won 13-3 to knock out a higher-seeded Pleasantville team on the road and advance to play in Saturday’s section tournament quarterfinals.
The No. 10 seed Garnets (8-11-1) scored four runs in the first inning, but No. 7 Pleasantville (12-9) answered right back with three runs of its own. After a scoreless second inning, Rye tacked on three more runs in the third and six in the fourth.
Sophomore Caroline Joyce pitched five and one-third scoreless innings and struck out nine batters to earn the win.
“Joyce came in relief in the bottom of the second and pitched great the rest of the game,” said Rye coach Alex Tejera.
Seven Garnets had multi-hit games, led by sophomore Jill DeSanto, who went 4-for-5 with three stolen bases. Junior Ava Rollano had three hits and two RBIs, and Joyce went 2-for-3 with three runs driven in.
The team that entered May without a win has now scored double-digit runs six times this month, winning three of the past four games to extend the season once again. Rye’s next test is Saturday at No. 2 seed Ardsley (14-5).
“We got timely hitting and great relief pitching to secure the win,” Tejera said. “I’m proud of the way they have rebounded this season after a rough start.”
