Rensselaer’s softball team swept its two games of the week in a doubleheader against the Mount Saint Mary College Blue Knights by a score of 3-2 in nine innings of play, and 11-3 in game two by the mercy rule. The two wins place RPI with a record of 12-4, while dropping Mount Saint Mary’s to 4-14 on the year.
Junior co-captain Becky Bailey proved to be the hero of the first game, ending the nine-inning outing by taking advantage of a wild pitch to end the game with two outs on the board. Sophomore pitcher Jen Bach earned the victory, allowing no runs on eight hits, and striking out nine batters in her 5.2 innings of relief to classmate Felicia Bua, who allowed two runs on six hits in her 3.1 innings of play.
“As a whole, I think this weekend truly couldn’t have gone much better,” explained Bailey. “Any time you sweep a team is exciting, but the way in which we did it really showed what our team has to offer.”
The Blue Knights placed on the board first in the extended game in the top of the second inning with an RBI single by junior Christine DelPiano. Rensselaer came back to tie the game in the bottom of the third with a base hit by senior co-captain Sara Finkbeiner. However, DelPiano struck again, plating sophomore Jackie Governale with a double to center field, good to take the 2-1 lead.
The game remained far from over, as Bach knocked her sixth home run of the season to the opposite field to tie the game up at two at the bottom of the fourth inning. Both teams would remain in a deadlock until Bailey tallied at the bottom of the ninth, ending the run-on game.
Mount Saint Mary starter sophomore Erin Dommermuth pitched eight complete innings, allowing two runs on six hits before being replaced by senior Erin Lappe, who shouldered the loss.
Despite playing an additional two innings in the first game, the nightcap was ended after five due to execution of the mercy rule—if a team is leading by seven runs after five innings of play, the game will be concluded.
The Red Hawks took a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning. Bach ripped an RBI double to right field, followed by a two-run single by sophomore Alysa Rochminski, both plays coming while RPI teetered on two outs. Rensselaer was able to add another one in the second, and two more in the third for the 6-0 advantage.
Mount Saint Mary responded with three runs in the top of the fourth including a two-run RBI by Lappe. The Blue Knights would not score again in the game, as RPI knocked home five runs on five hits in the bottom of the fourth to take the 11-3 lead.
Rochminski, along with sophomore Alicia Miksic, each drove home three runs, and Finkbeiner finished the day going three-for-four with two runs scored and one run batted in. Finkbeiner also threw a complete game, allowing only three runs on five hits in five innings of play.
“As a team, we did a great job adjusting to the various pitchers we faced over the weekend,” said sophomore third baseman Genevieve Falco. “We were able to make quick adjustments and really excelled when it came to offense. We also did a great job adjusting to the weather conditions and staying focused when games went into extra innings.”
Originally, the Red Hawks were scheduled to play doubleheaders against Castleton State College and Nazareth College on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. However, due to unplayable field conditions, both games were postponed. Saturday’s game against the Spartans is scheduled to be made up next Wednesday at 3 pm at Doris Robison Field, while the game against Nazareth currently has no plans to be rescheduled.
“Right now we have all parts working great; our freshmen are really stepping up and coming into their roles, our pitchers have shown nothing but confidence, determination, and focus lately, and all of our practice has paid off in our defense looking very clean and confident, and our offense will always be ready and hungry for more runs,” said Bailey.
The team’s doubleheader against Middlebury College yesterday was postponed to uncooperative weather, and has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 22 at Middlebury, with the first game beginning at 3 pm.
RPI heads out on the road in its upcoming doubleheader against Hamilton College this Monday, in Clinton, N.Y. The first pitch will be dealt at 3:30 pm. “We have never been more prepared for our opponents,” said Falco. “I think everyone is anxious to get out on the field and earn some more wins.”
