The Rensselaer softball team suffered two late inning losses last week. After their scheduled doubleheader against Montclair St. was postponed, they traveled to Danbury, Conn. to take on the Plattsburgh St. Cardinals and Western Connecticut State Colonials.
The Red Hawks took an early lead over the Cardinals. To kick off the second inning, Amanda Bolognino drew a walk, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Katherine Valenta. Amy Huling grounded out to second, advancing Bolgnino to third with two outs. Ali O’Connor hit a clutch single to drive in the run and RPI took the lead 1-0.
Plattsburgh fired back with a run of their own in the top of the fourth. Nikki Zabkewicz singled and advanced to second on a Nikki Dooley error. Zabkewicz then stole third, and scored later that at-bat on a passed ball. After recording a strike out, Dooley then gave up a double. The Red Hawks recovered and stranded Mitchell to keep the game tied at one.
The Cardinals took the lead in the top of the seventh. Dooley walked the lead off batter, and then allowed a single. Plattsburgh sacrificed the runners to second and third, and Dooley walked the bases loaded. After a sacrifice fly, Plattsburgh executed a double steal and scored the second run of the inning, making it 3-1.
RPI attempted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, but fell short. O’Connor walked to start the rally, and Shannon Quinn reached on catcher’s interference. A Plattsburgh error loaded the bases for the Red Hawks, but they could not convert and dropped the contest 3-1.
Dooley pitched the complete game for the Red Hawks, yielding three runs—only one earned—on three hits and struck out nine. Her record is now 3-1 on the year.
Rensselaer looked to rebound against the Western Connecticut State Colonials. The Red Hawks again jumped out to an early lead, scoring in the top of the first inning. Liz Vitaliano led off the game with a walk. Laura Feeney grounded into a fielder’s choice, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and to third on a passed ball. Bolognino singled in the run, and the Red Hawks took the lead 1-0.
Western Connecticut took the lead in the bottom of the third with a pair of runs. RPI pitcher Katie Mahoney gave up a pair of walks and a pair of doubles, with each double driving in a run.
RPI took back the lead in the top of the sixth. Vitaliano led off the inning with a single, and Feeney added another single to get the rally going. Two batters later, Valenta doubled, driving in two runs, to give the Red Hawks the 3-2 lead.
Rensselaer added another insurance run in the top of the seventh, but it would prove to be not quite enough to hold off the Colonials. Western Connecticut led off the inning with a double, but the runner was snubbed at third on a fielder’s choice. Another pair of doubles chased Mahoney from the game, with the game now tied at four. Huling came in to stop the bleeding, but hit the first batter she faced and gave up a single. Western Connecticut took the game with a final score of 5-4. Mahoney took the loss for the Red Hawks, her first decision of the season.
The Red Hawks are now 8-3 on the season, and have a pair of doubleheaders scheduled for next week. Saturday they will travel to Ithaca to take on the Bombers at 1 pm, and Tuesday they will play their home-opening doubleheader versus SUNY New Paltz at 3 pm.
