The RPI softball team faced quite a few firsts on Sunday. They squared off against their first league opponents of the season, the Skidmore Thoroughbreds. They played their first games away from home since the Florida spring training trip. They played their first games, period, since March 30, and sophomore ace Nikki Dooley took the mound for the Red Hawks for the first time since March 16.
Rensselaer was unfazed, however, as they shook off the rust and swept the Thoroughbreds 6-2 and 13-1 in the twin bill.
Dooley turned in another solid performance in her return to the mound in game one of the doubleheader. The fireballer pitched a complete game, yielding two runs on four hits while striking out eight. She also helped her own cause, going one-for-four with an RBI and a run scored.
Uncharacteristic of the Red Hawks’ season thus far, Skidmore struck first and held the lead for the first couple of innings. In Skidmore’s half of the first, pitcher Katelyn Kennedy hit a two-out single and third baseman Lisa Mason knocked her home for the early 1-0 advantage.
Kennedy also came out strong on the mound for the Thoroughbreds as she tamed the Red Hawk offense, striking out three and giving up only two hits in the first two innings.
“I think we were a little rusty,” explained Head Coach Erika Lewis. “We were a little rushed because we arrived at the field late, and we hadn’t played a game in two weeks. Plus, I think we were all, including us coaches, a little nervous.”
RPI quickly put their nerves to bed, though, as a Lizzie Vitaliano single coupled with a Stephanie Vanek double tied the game at 1-1 in the third frame.
As the Red Hawk offense clawed its way back into the game, Dooley shut down the Thoroughbreds. From the second to the fifth inning, the sophomore allowed only one Skidmore hit.
In what has been RPI’s most productive inning of the season thus far, the Red Hawks blew the game open in the fifth, scoring four runs and taking a commanding 5-1 lead.
Upstart freshman Courtney Sweeney started the inning by reaching first after being hit by a Kennedy pitch. Kennedy would surrender three more free passes, including one with the bases loaded. Two errors by the Skidmore infield would compound the problem for the Thoroughbreds, as Rensselaer would end the fifth with an official stat line of four runs on one hit.
After another Kennedy walk to start the sixth, sophomore Katherine Valenta and junior Amy Huling both flied out to centerfield, allowing Vanek to advance and eventually score, extending the lead to 6-1.
Skidmore attempted a comeback in the bottom half of the sixth as left fielder Ria Jodrie capitalized on a Red Hawk error, crossing home to cut the lead to 6-2.
They would get no closer, however, as Dooley retired the last five batters of the game, giving the sophomore her fifth victory of the season.
Offensively, Vanek led the way in the first game for the Red Hawks as she went two-for-two with an RBI, a run scored, and two stolen bases.
The nightcap provided a much different storyline than the previous match as RPI came out hot early and never let up, scoring three runs in the first and seven in the fifth, en route to a 13-1 mercy-rule-shortened victory.
In the top of the first, an RBI single by Valenta, an RBI double by Huling, and an error by Skidmore shortstop Shalia Delea allowed three Red Hawk base runners to reach home, giving RPI the early 3-0 lead.
The Thoroughbreds tried to answer back in their half of the first, but they could only manage one run on two hits against sophomore hurler Katie Mahoney before the Red Hawk defense caught Kennedy trying to steal to end the inning.
Mahoney would shut down the Skidmore offense thereafter, allowing only two runners past second base, striking out four, and walking none in the last four innings of action.
After Vanek scored on a wild pitch, Mahoney and Vitaliano added solo-homers in the third and fourth innings, respectively, to make the lead 6-0 after four frames.
“Those were real nice shots,” said Lewis, praising the home runs.
The Red Hawk offense didn’t stop there as they sent 13 batters to the plate in the fifth inning, scoring seven runs on five hits, three walks, and two errors.
With a score of 13-1 after five innings of play, the eight-run-lead mercy rule was employed, giving Mahoney a complete game victory and keeping her record perfect at 4-0.
Vanek led the way offensively again. This time, the co-captain went four-for-four with a double, two RBIs, two stolen bases, and three runs scored.
On the day, Vanek went six-for-six with three doubles, three RBIs, four runs scored, and four stolen bases. That outstanding performance earned the Smithtown, N.Y., native Co-Performer of the Week honors for the second time this season.
Huling also had a stellar day at the dish as she combined to go three-for-five with three RBIs and two runs scored in the doubleheader.
Despite the wins, it was not a perfect weekend for the Red Hawks as their Friday doubleheader with bitter rival Union was postponed due to field conditions.
“Their field wasn’t ready,” stated Lewis simply. “The bases weren’t in. There were large concrete slabs sticking out. It was unsafe to play on.”
That didn’t stop the Dutchwomen from playing games that were originally set as home matches against Russell Sage and St. Lawrence, however. For those games, played on April 5 and 10, respectively, Union gave up home field to play at Russell Sage and at a neutral site for the games against the Saints. However, no such compromise was in the cards for the cross-town rivals.
“They didn’t want to play us anywhere but at their field,” explained Lewis. “And really, I don’t know if I blame them.”
There’s no love lost between the two schools in any sport, especially in softball, where both are each other’s primary league competition.
The squads will face off on Monday, April 25 in the last league contests for both teams for a doubleheader that could determine the league championship.
The Red Hawks will look to add to their 12-game unbeaten streak with three doubleheaders next week. They will welcome Hartwick and Russell Sage to Doris Robison Field for two games each on April 13 and 15, respectively. They’ll then travel to Canton, N.Y., to take on St. Lawrence on April 17 in a Liberty League twin bill.
The keys to success for RPI are simple. “We just need to keep having good at bats and keep our confidence up,” said Lewis. “Our offense doesn’t stop until we stop it.”
