The RPI softball team faced three doubleheaders last week: home series with Hartwick and Russell Sage, and a league twin bill at Saint Lawrence. The Red Hawks fared well, coming out of the week with a 5-1 record.
On Wednesday, RPI welcomed the 1-17 Hartwick Hawks to Doris Robison Field for a non-conference doubleheader. Hartwick upended the Red Hawks in the first game, 3-0. RPI answered back in game two, beating Hartwick 4-0.
“We just weren’t hitting,” commented Head Coach Erika Lewis on the game one defeat. “They were playing us deep, and we were getting under the ball.”
Sophomore Nikki Dooley kept the Red Hawks in it through five innings, as the score was knotted at 0-0. The Hartwick bats, however, finally got to Dooley in the sixth with back-to-back singles and a double, all with two outs, that resulted in two runs, which would prove to be more than enough for the win.
RPI came out strong in the second game, though, scoring three runs in the first and adding another in the third. The four runs would be more than enough as junior Amy Huling held Hartwick to only three hits and two walks while striking out five.
“We just wanted to come out and play our game,” said Lewis on game two of the doubleheader. “We knew we were better than we showed in the first game. We just needed to get our heads back in it.”
The loss in game one snapped Rensselaer’s 12-game unbeaten streak. “It’s disappointing,” lamented Lewis, “but maybe it was a good wake-up call.”
The Red Hawks wouldn’t have long to mourn, however, as two days later they hosted a doubleheader with their neighbors from down the hill, Russell Sage.
RPI dominated both contests, winning 8-0 in game one and drubbing the Gators 20-1 in the rematch.
After walking the first batter of the game in the opener, Mahoney and Huling combined to retire the last 15 Sage batters, completing the no-hitter.
Huling picked up where she left off in the rematch, allowing only one base runner in three innings of work. Dooley was solid in relief. After surrendering Sage’s only run in the fourth, the sophomore fireballer struck out all three batters she faced in the fifth, extinguishing any hopes of a Sage comeback.
On Sunday, the Red Hawks made the trek through the Adirondacks for a Liberty League doubleheader with the St. Lawrence Saints. Rensselaer kept its conference record perfect, walking away from Canton, N.Y., with victories of 7-0 and 3-2, respectively.
In the first game, Dooley controlled the Saints lineup, giving up two hits, no walks, and no runs while striking out three. The sophomore ace didn’t allow a runner past second base all game, and didn’t allow a batter to reach base at all after the fourth inning.
“That was the best game Nikki has pitched so far this season,” praised Lewis.
Huling and Mahoney pitched well again for the Red Hawks in game two. Huling started the game, scattering seven hits over four innings and yielding only one run. In the fifth, with the bases loaded and no outs, Mahoney struck out three consecutive Saints to end the threat.
The sophomore saved the day again in the bottom of the seventh. With the go-ahead run on first base, Mahoney forced Saint pitcher Jess McPherson to hit a grounder back to her which she fielded cleanly for the out and the RPI sweep.
“We just played fundamental softball,” boasted Lewis. “We played real good defense, the pitching was solid, and we were very focused at the plate.”
One bat that was particularly focused was that of Huling. The junior co-captain went nine-for-20 over the week, knocking in 10 runs. Those gaudy numbers, combined with her stellar pitching performances in all three twin bills, earned her Co-Performer of the Week honors from the Liberty League.
Mahoney also garnered accolades from the Liberty League, as she was named Co-Pitcher of the Week. The sophomore posted a 1-0 record with a save as she allowed only one hit in seven innings of work over the week.
RPI will travel to Purchase, N.Y., on Thursday to take on Manhattanville in a non-league doubleheader. The Red Hawks will then test their stamina with back-to-back-to-back twin bills on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. RIT and Rochester will visit Troy for two games a piece on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, after which RPI will travel to Schenectady to take on Union in its last league contests of the season on Monday.
The doubleheader between the bitter rivals will most likely determine who earns the 2005 Liberty League crown.
