Although rain may have prevented the softball team from playing earlier in the year, the skies have been bright and sunny for the talented squad, which took home its 10th straight win after a complete sweep of two doubleheaders against the Castleton State College Spartans and the St. Lawrence University Saints this past week. The near-complete four-game shutout places the Red Hawks 18-4 overall on the year, while the Spartans fell to 7-9 and the Saints finish the week 4-16 after dropping their Liberty League openers.
Wednesday’s games both ended early as RPI took the pair by mercy rule—ending the first match after five innings and the second in six, with scores of 10-0 and 9-0, respectively. Sophomore Jen Bach was a catalyst for Rensselaer in both games, pitching a complete one-hitter in the earlier game and tallying four hits, three runs, and five RBIs total on the day.
The Red Hawks opened with a four-run first frame, highlighted by a two-run single by Bach and a two-run homer to center field from senior Julianne Bass. Rensselaer was able to pad that lead with two runs in the second, a single run in the third, and three more runs in the fourth inning—including a two-run double from sophomore third baseman Genevieve Falco.
After five innings were complete, the game was called to keep the score under control. The Red Hawks saw multiple hits from several players, including junior Becky Bailey—who went three-for-three with two runs scored—and sophomore Alysa Rochminski—who went two-for-three with two RBIs.
Castleton sophomore pitcher Tosha Wittemore had the only hit of the game, a single in the third inning. Wittemore allowed 10 runs on 10 hits and walked four batters. Bach, on the other hand, struck out four on the mound and was two-for-three with two runs scored and three RBIs from the plate.
Game two finished similarly to the first, ending after six innings of play. RPI held a 5-0 lead after three innings of play, in the last of which a single to right field by freshman Sara Heller brought home two batters, and a walk to Rochminski brought another runner across the plate. An RBI single by freshman Samantha Paulding finished the four-run inning. Prior to that, a pair of doubles by Falco and Rochminski tallied the first run of the game in the second inning.
After a single run in the fifth, the game ended following a three-run sixth inning, in which RPI held an untouchable 9-0 lead over the Spartans.
Bach finished the nightcap two-for-four with a double, a run scored, and two RBIs. Senior Sara Finkbeiner scored two runs, and Heller had a double with two runs scored and two RBIs. Sophomore pitcher Felicia Bua blanked the opponents, striking out 12 and allowing only one walk. For the Spartans, junior hurler Hilary Bemis allowed nine runs on 10 hits, eight of which were earned runs. Bemis also walked five Red Hawks on the afternoon.
Rensselaer carried that momentum into its next twinbill against St. Lawrence, the Liberty League openers for both teams. As in the previous series, the Red Hawks nearly kept their competition off the board, taking game one by a score of 8-0 and the nightcap by an 11-1 margin.
Once again, Bach proved to make the difference, going three-for-four with one run scored and four RBIs in the first game, including a two-run blast to center field in the first inning. Following the two-run second inning, the Red Hawks kept swinging, notching four more runs off three hits in the second.
RPI managed two more runs in the second off a two-run homer by Rochminski. Although the Saints had several chances to get on the boards, they left 12 runners on base, and were unable to solve Red Hawk pitchers Finkbeiner and Bua. For St. Lawrence, sophomore pitcher Meg Goodemote allowed eight earned runs on 10 hits.
Sooner or later, all good things must come to an end, including the Red Hawks’ three-game shutout streak. St. Lawrence junior Amy Atkins knocked an RBI triple to right field to bring home classmate Molly Swan, although that would be the only run scored by the Saints in the game.
RPI took a 2-1 lead off a triple from freshman first baseman Kelly Erkert, followed by two more runs in the fourth inning and seven runs in the final two frames of play. Game two saw five different Red Hawks record at least two hits, including three runs scored by Bass. In another impressive start, Bach allowed only one Saint baserunner in the final four innings of play, as well as allowing only four hits on the evening and striking out seven batters. For St. Lawrence, sophomore pitcher Rachel Duffany allowed six earned runs on 12 hits and walked five batters.
The Red Hawks continue with their jam-packed schedule, playing five games over the next week. Rensselaer is on the road today in a doubleheader against Middlebury College beginning at 3 pm, followed by a game at Elms College at 4 pm on Friday. RPI continues its Liberty League schedule at home with a doubleheader against the University of Rochester on Sunday, the first game of which will start at 1 pm.
