In the opening game of the season, the Red Hawks took on the Cardinals of St. John Fisher. After falling behind in the first, Rensselaer put two on the board in the second on a 2-run single by Infielder Megan Porter. The Red Hawks got on the board once again in the third when Porter smacked another 2-run single that capped a 3-run inning.

The Cardinals got their own offense going when they struck for 6 runs in the fourth to jump back on top 7-5. In the later half of the inning the Red Hawks’ catcher, Leanna Smith, went yard, driving in 3 of RPI’s 7 runs.

The Red Hawks added two more scores in the sixth en route to a 14-10 win.

In addition to Porter and Smith, Outfielder Melissa Fratine was three-for-four with 3 runs and two RBI. Pitcher Shannon Smith picked up the win.

In their second game the Red Hawks were shut out by Transylvania. The Red Hawks allowed Transylvania a run in every inning except the second and sixth, and committed six errors in all. Further, the only hit by RPI came when Fratine singled in the seventh.

The Red Hawks rebounded to win their next game over Salve Regina with an exciting seventh-inning rally.

After opening up a 1- run lead in the second, the Red Hawks held the lead until Salve Regina scored three times in the fifth. The Seahawks added another in the top of the sixth before the Red Hawks scored 2. In the seventh, the Red Hawks’ Laura Feeney came through with a huge double that enabled Rensselaer to grab a win by a count of 5-4.

Shannon Smith earned the win, which improved her record to 2-1. Fratine, along with Infielder Meredith Brooks, each drove a run home with singles during the victory.

Following this, the team lost four games in a row dropping their season record to 2-5.

The Red Hawks then took on North Central. The Cardinals scored 2 runs in the first before the Red Hawks broke out for 6 in the second. Fratine was once again at the focal point of the attack as she connected on a double that brought home 2 runs. Brooks, Jessica Depalma, and Shannon Smith each had run-scoring singles during the rally. Shannon Smith went on to earn the win despite the fact that the Red Hawks once again had six errors in the game.

In their final game of the trip, the Red Hawks used a 2-run rally in the sixth to earn a 4-3 win. Framingham got on the board first with a run in the second before the Red Hawks bounced back for 2 in the fourth. After the Red Hawks put another 2 on the board in the sixth, Framingham responded with a deuce of their own, but it proved to be too little, too late.

Leanna Smith pitched five strong innings in her first appearance on the mound in nearly six years. Her twin sister Shannon came on in the sixth to pick up the win for the Red Hawks.

At the plate, Leanna Smith had a triple and a home run and Fratine was three-for-three with a triple.

All in all, the Red Hawks seem to be making strides in the early season. While their defense has been suspect at some points, they seem to be making strides.

Specifically, the loss of their two best pitchers in Larina Suker and Suzi Vnenchak will be difficult to overcome this season. But the Red Hawks have found pitchers in Leanna and Shannon Smith. How these two fair on the mound might well determine if the softball team is successful this season.