The Rensselaer softball team split six games last week, sweeping cross-town rival Russell Sage, splitting with UCAA foe St. Lawrence, and dropping a pair of games to non-conference opponent Williams.
The Red Hawk bats were slow to start against the Russell Sage Gators, and Rensselaer could not score until the top of the third. With two outs, Liz Vitaliano ripped a triple and scored on a Laura Feeney single to put the Red Hawks up 1-0.
Rensselaer scored again in the top of the fourth, with pitcher Nikki Dooley helping her own cause, blasting a two-run home run.
Russell Sage tallied a lone run in the bottom of the sixth, but the Red Hawks held on to win 3-1.
Dooley pitched superbly for the Red Hawks, allowing only one hit and one walk in five innings of work. Amy Huling closed out the game, yielding only one unearned run on two hits in two innings of work.
The offense came alive in the second game for RPI, scoring 16 runs in the second half of the twin-bill.
The Gators scored first, tallying their first and only run in the bottom of the first.
The Red Hawks fired right back in the second. Amanda Bolognino led off the inning with a single. Huling bunted to sacrifice her to second, but the Gator pitcher threw the ball away, allowing Huling to reach safely and Bolognino to advance to third. After a pair of fielder’s choices, Vitaliano and Valenta singled in runs. After the dust settled, the Red Hawks scored five runs, taking a 5-1 lead.
RPI continued the onslaught with two runs in the third and six in the fourth, the big blow being a pair of two-RBI singles by Ali O’Connor and Abby Eldridge.
Rensselaer’s drubbing of Russell Sage was capped off with a two-run fifth inning.
Stephanie Vanek scored the win for the Red Hawks, pitching three innings of two-hit ball. Katie Mahoney finished the game with two hitless innings, only walking two Gators.
The Red Hawks enjoyed yet another stellar pitching performance from Dooley on Saturday against St. Lawrence. Dooley hurled a complete game, allowing only one unearned run on six hits and two walks. The lone St. Lawrence run was enough to win the game for the Saints, as the Red Hawks only managed five hits, and couldn’t string more than two together in the 1-0 shutout loss.
RPI faired much better against the Saints in game two, putting seven runs on the board en route to taking the second game.
With two outs in the bottom of the first, Vanek drew a walk from Saints’ pitcher Bibit Marion. Bolognino ripped a ball deep to center, scoring Vanek from first. Bolognino was cut down at third trying to stretch the double into the triple.
RPI again loaded the bases in the second, with Vitaliano emptying them with a two-out triple.
The Red Hawks added three more runs, beating the Saints 7-1.
Huling pitched a complete game for RPI, allowing a single unearned run on four hits.
The Red Hawks hosted non-conference Williams for a doubleheader Sunday. They fell 5-4 in the first game, despite a three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth. The Ephs shot down the Red Hawks in game two, only allowing four hits in a 4-0 win.
The Red Hawks are now 17-8 on the year, with a record of 4-2 in UCAA play. Rensselaer scheduled match up against the Manhattanville Valiants at 3:30 pm on Wednesday was postponed, and the game has not been rescheduled. The Red Hawks will complete their season on the road at Rochester Sunday at 1 pm.
