The RPI women’s softball team welcomed Castleton State to Doris Robison Field on Wednesday, March 30, for a doubleheader.
With pitcher Nikki Dooley sidelined for precautionary reasons after sustaining a minor injury, sophomore Katie Mahoney and junior Amy Huling dominated on the mound, combining for 23 strikeouts while giving up only three runs over the course of the doubleheader, en route to a Red Hawks sweep of the Spartans.
“They both threw real well,” praised Head Coach Erika Lewis of the pitching tandem.
In the first game, Mahoney pitched an impressive complete game two-hitter. The sophomore struck out 13, walked three, and gave up two runs. She also helped her own cause by going two-for-three at the plate with two doubles and an RBI.
RPI struck first in the opening game in the bottom of the first inning. After a Stephanie Vanek single and stolen base, catcher Katherine Valenta laid down a bunt that was misplayed by Castleton State pitcher Lisa Hasch. Valenta was safe at first, and Vanek scored on the error.
Castleton State answered back in their half of the third, scoring two runs and taking a 2-1 lead. Valenta ended the inning by throwing out Spartan Brigette Olson as she tried to steal second base.
The Red Hawks couldn’t be held down for long, however, as they exploded for three runs in the bottom half of the third, taking the lead back just as quickly as they had lost it.
Sophomore Abby Eldridge got things started with an infield single. Singles by Courtney Sweeney, Vanek, and Huling followed, as well as a Valenta walk. Eldridge, Sweeney, and Vanek all crossed the plate for the Red Hawks, making the score 4-2.
Castleton State threatened again in the fifth inning. After drawing two walks and advancing on two Mahoney wild pitches, the tying run was on second base when Lacey Dame came up to bat. Dame was one-for-two at that point, with a double and an RBI for the Spartans.
After a brief meeting with Lewis on the mound, Mahoney struck out Dame and ended the Castleton State threat. “I went out there to basically just give her a confidence booster,” said Lewis. “I told her to stop thinking so much, and just throw.”
The boost stayed with Mahoney as she retired the final seven batters of the game, starting with Dame, to close the book on the first match of the doubleheader.
Rensselaer added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth for good measure. With no scoring in the sixth or seventh innings, Mahoney picked up her third win of the young season in a 6-2 RPI victory.
Offensively, Vanek led the way in game one. The junior co-captain went three-for-three with two stolen bases and three runs scored. Huling also had a big game at the plate, going two-for-three with two RBIs.
The latter game of the doubleheader followed much of the same pattern.
Huling picked up on the mound where Mahoney left off, pitching a complete game of her own. The junior struck out 10 while allowing only one run on four hits.
Again, RPI struck first. In the second inning, sophomore Melissa Manzo crushed a double, allowing Huling and freshman Logan Russell to give the Red Hawks an early 2-0 lead.
Castleton State finally got on the board in the top of the fifth inning after a Hilarie Hauswirth sacrifice fly allowed freshman Angela Carpenter to score from third base.
That would be as close as the Spartans would get, however, as RPI added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend the lead to 4-1.
Both pitchers clamped down after the fifth as each team could only muster a hit apiece in the final two innings. RPI completed the sweep with a 4-1 victory in game two, upping Huling’s record to 3-1, and increasing the Red Hawks’ unbeaten streak to 10 games.
For her performance against the Spartans, Sweeney was named Liberty League Co-Rookie of the Week for the second time this season. The freshman went a combined two-for-five in the doubleheader, knocking in two RBIs and scoring twice. She was also perfect from the field, converting all three of her fielding chances at third base.
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association also had its eye on RPI. The Red Hawks have climbed to 12th in the national rankings after being unranked in the preseason poll. This marks the first time Rensselaer has been nationally ranked in softball since 2000. That year was also the last time RPI garnered an NCAA tournament bid.
Lewis, however, is weary of what kind of effect the national accolades will have on her team. “It’s great for confidence,” remarked the coach, “but there’s a fine line between confidence and cockiness. This ranking could hurt us or it could help us. I don’t think it’ll be a problem, though. We know that we’re a good team, but we also know the teams we play are good teams.”
Next on the docket for the Red Hawks was a doubleheader against perennial powerhouse Ithaca on Saturday, April 2. Unfortunately, mother nature didn’t want to cooperate, and the games have been postponed to a later date to be determined.
“Weather usually plays a part this time of year,” lamented Lewis. “It’s the same for all northeastern teams. It’s hit-or-miss scheduling.”
The postponement is especially disheartening as RPI seemed to be firing on all cylinders after their performance against Castleton State. “To a certain degree it hurts us because we were clicking,” admitted Lewis of the untimeliness of the cancellation, “but we like to think if we’re clicking, we’re clicking.”
Looking ahead, the Red Hawks will travel down Route 7 to Schenectady on April 8 for a doubleheader against the hated Union Dutchwomen. RPI has split the yearly contests with Union for the past two seasons. “They are probably the toughest team in our conference besides us,” commented Lewis.
The Dutchwomen are currently on an eight-game winning streak of their own. They are 11-3 and riding the momentum of junior fireballer Jackie Coffey. Coffey has earned two straight Pitcher of the Week awards from the Liberty League and has thrown two no-hitters already this season.
Both squads have dominated thus far on the strength of their superior pitching and hitting. RPI’s team batting average is .342 compared with Union’s .337. On the mound, the Red Hawks boast a team ERA of 1.11, while the Dutchwomen pitchers enjoy a 1.13 team ERA.
The eerie similarities in these major categories, coupled with the intense rivalry between the two clubs, suggest that the games on April 8 will be closely and hotly contested. Lewis predicted, “These will be the biggest games all year.”
