Last year, the Red Hawk softball team no-hit Union and couldn’t nab the win. This year, it just took a timely two-run rally for the Dutchwomen to squeak by RPI.
In the second game of a double header Friday, the Red Hawks pushed the Union Dutchwomen to the limit of their abilities.
Union tallied an unearned run in the top of the third off Amy Huling. They started the inning with a hot shot to third base that Katherine Valenta could not handle. After a walk by Huling and a Dutchwomen single, Valenta booted a second ball, allowing the run to score unearned.
The Red Hawks, facing a one-run deficit, went into the bottom of the fourth thinking rally. Liz Vitaliano started the inning with a single, and advanced all the way to third when Laura Feeney reached on an error. Stephanie Vanek sacrificed Feeney to second, and Union walked Amanda Bolognino. Valenta redeemed herself with a sharp single, scoring Vitaliano. Huling helped her own cause, singling in the eventual winning run. The rally fizzled after a play at the plate and a strike out.
Huling finished the game without another run, striking out seven and only yielding six hits. The Red Hawks came away with the victory, besting Union 2-1.
The first game of the doubleheader featured a sterling pitching match-up between Rensselaer’s standout freshman Nikki Dooley and Union’s Abby Areceneaux.
Union drew first blood in the top of the second when Julie Gawronski homered into a gusting wind.
Dooley was stellar despite giving up the home run. She allowed only six hits, one run, and struck out seven, while walking none.
The Red Hawks attempted a rally in the bottom of the sixth. Feeney and Vanek started the inning off with singles, but Bolognino grounded into a 4-3 double play. With Feeney on third, Areceneaux got Valenta to ground out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, RPI again put a runner into scoring position. Huling walked to start the inning, and Lindsey McKeen came in to pinch-run. Ali O’Connor singled, sending McKeen to second.
After a Shannon Quinn fly-out, Dooley lined an Areceneaux offering to second base. The Union second baseman snared the ball and threw to first to double off the runner. The first baseman bobbled the ball, but McKeen never tagged up. Union threw the ball to second base, doubling off the runner and ending the game.
The Red Hawks came off the Union split with a pair of mercy-rule drubbings over the Thoroughbreds of Skidmore.
In game one, Katie Mahoney shutout the Thoroughbreds, and the Red Hawks’ offense sprung to life in a 9-0 victory.
Skidmore’s wildness helped the Red Hawks in the first inning. RPI took five bases on wild pitches and passed balls, and the Thoroughbreds walked three and hit one. The Red Hawks scored four runs in the first, on only two hits, and no errors.
The Red Hawks scored two runs in the bottom of the third, with O’Connor providing the big blow, doubling in a run.
RPI added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth, and coasted to a five-inning mercy-rule victory.
Mahoney pitched well in the first game of the doubleheader, yielding only one hit and three walks, allowing no runs and striking out five.
Vanek was equally impressive on the mound in the second half of the twin-bill, leading the Red Hawks to a 10-1 win.
Rensselaer put together two four-run innings on their way to besting Skidmore in another mercy-rule contest.
Six of the nine Red Hawk starters scored runs. Quinn was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI. Vanek and Bolognino were each 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.
On the mound, Vanek gave up just three hits and one run, striking out three. She was named UCAA Co-performer of the Week.
RPI is now 14-5 overall and 3-1 in the UCAA, tied for first place with the Dutchwomen.
The Red Hawks are back in action today, playing a doubleheader at Hartwick at 3:30 pm. They will then travel to Russell Sage Friday, with the doubleheader slated for 3 pm. St. Lawrence will then come to Robison Field for a conference twin-bill Saturday at 1 pm.
