The Rensselaer women’s softball team played in a doubleheader yesterday against the State University of New York at New Paltz. Although they were off to a rough start when they lost their first game 0-3, they bounced back in the second to win 8-2. This was their first game back since they concluded their tour of schools in Florida over Spring Break, which ended on March 18.
New Paltz was first to score after a hit from Lauren Capello gave Danielle Bruno a single from third to send her home in the fourth inning. Pitcher Katie Rutcofsky struck out six Engineers and walked one to keep Rensselaer from advancing. Once the Engineers were pitching again, New Paltz sent home two more players for two more runs in the sixth inning.
Early on in the second game, Rensselaer was in the red 0-1 for the first two innings. They came back to score two runs in the top of the third inning and three during the fourth.
New Paltz got a run in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 5-2 Engineers, but they fell another three runs behind after seniors Taylor Ten Eyck and Morgan Ten Eyck and freshman Stefanie Warner achieved a double.
Senior lefty Victoria Hepworth gave up only two runs on four hits. She struck out one player and walked four.
The official softball season opened on Saturday, March 12, when RPI played against the Sage Colleges. Winning their first game 11-3, their streak would only continue as the week progressed.
Later on Saturday, the Engineers faced Rutgers University at Newark and lost their first game of the season. The Engineers would, however, win the next eight games they played during break, losing only their final two of the break to Ithaca College in a doubleheader on Friday, March 18.
Stop by Robison Field at 3 pm today to watch the Engineers as they play against Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.