The RPI softball team ran its winning streak to 18 this week, with doubleheader sweeps over bitter rival Union on Friday, league foe Skidmore on Sunday, and non-league opponent Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on Monday.
In game one against the Dutchwomen, Union struck first in the top of the second inning on a two-out RBI single by second baseman Colleen White. Rensselaer answered back in their half of the third, as freshman sensation Sara Finkbeiner tattooed an Abby Arceneaux pitch over the left-center field wall, giving RPI the lead 2-1.
The Red Hawks would never look back, tallying two more runs in the fifth, after first-year slugger Julianne Bass knocked home Finkbeiner and senior Amy Huling on a double to right-center.
Union made it interesting in the last inning, however. With two outs, Arceneaux singled to left field, and Alicia Gifford walked on four straight pitches, bringing that tying run to the plate and prompting RPI Head Coach Erika Lewis to visit the mound to talk to her freshman ace, Michelle Street.
“I told her to just relax and concentrate on hitting her spots,” commented Lewis. “She hardly ever gets spooked on the mound, so I just told her to do her thing.”
Another single by the Dutchwomen loaded the bases, but Street was able to force Michelle Rogers into a ground out to Finkbeiner to end the threat and the game.
The rematch between the two Liberty League titans could have been dubbed the “Courtney Sweeney show.” The RPI sophomore was involved in all three runs that were scored in the game, with the Red Hawks squeaking out a 2-1 victory.
Union once again started their scoring in the second inning during the game. With a runner on second, senior Erika Eisenhut sent a hard grounder toward Sweeney, who this season has rotated between the outfield and the infield. Sweeney fielded the ball cleanly, but sent the throw past first base, allowing the Union runner to score. The Dutchwomen’s very next batter sent another grounder to Sweeney, but this time she made a solid throw and got the out.
“Lately I’ve been having some trouble adjusting between outfield and infield and my first throw has been off,” said Sweeney via e-mail. “Unfortunately, in this game it cost us a run, but once it happened I was able to clear my head and play like I know how.”
That run would be the only one for a while as Huling and Union pitcher Jackie Coffey put up scoreless inning after scoreless inning. Huling scattered four hits and three walks, not allowing either after the fifth.
“Amy [Huling] sometimes has a rough first couple innings, then finds her groove,” remarked Lewis. “She fought hard for us. To give up one run and then hold down the best offense in the nation statistically, that’s just a testament to her will to win.”
With the score still 1-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, RPI had one final chance to avoid the split. Junior Katherine Valenta started things off with a single to center field. The Red Hawks then played some “small ball” as sophomore Logan Russell laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Valenta to second.
With the tying run in scoring position, Sweeney came to the plate. She was zero-for-two going into that at-bat. “I knew that during my previous at-bats I had been swinging at a lot of junk, so all I had to do was be patient and swing at something good,” recalled Sweeney. “On the third pitch, I was ready for a change-up and that was what [Coffey] threw.”
Sweeney sent it to left field, scoring Valenta and landing herself on second base. After a strikeout by sophomore Ann Cosgrove, lead-off hitter Stephanie Vanek sent a double to center, scoring Sweeney and completing the comeback.
“When I hit the plate, I forgot all about the error in the second inning,” commented Sweeney. “It’s the most incredible feeling to be a part of any win, let alone against Union.” “It was nothing short of thrilling,” explained Lewis of the come-from-behind win.
The hits kept coming for the Red Hawks, as two days later they welcomed the Skidmore Thoroughbreds to Doris Robison Field. RPI won both games soundly, 8-0 and 14-1, keeping their league mark perfect and setting a new school record for wins in a season with 31.
In the opener, Street continued her breakout freshman campaign, holding Skidmore to two hits with 11 strikeouts and no walks. The East Syracuse, N.Y., native struck out the first seven hitters she saw, and nine of the first 10.
Offensively, Lewis’ four through eight hitters did the majority of the damage. Bass, sophomore transfer Beth Gargon, Valenta, and Russell went a combined eight-for-nine with six RBIs to pace the Red Hawks.
In the nightcap, Rensselaer tacked 10 runs on the board in the first inning alone, setting the stage for the blowout win. RPI’s scoring outburst was thanks in large part to seven first inning walks by Skidmore starting pitcher Jessica Bergen.
It was business as usual on Monday, as strong pitching and solid hitting led the Red Hawks to 9-3 and 10-2 victories over MCLA. Over the two games, Street and Huling combined to strike out 16 batters while allowing only seven hits. At the plate, Finkbeiner led the way, going five-for-six over the doubleheader with her team-leading eighth home run of the season.
The Red Hawks will have one more doubleheader this season, a Liberty League make-up match against Rochester on Friday. If either team sweeps, that squad will garner the league crown. In the case of a split, RPI’s 7-1 record will edge out Rochester’s mark of 6-2.
After that, the rest of the season will be in the hands of the NCAA and ECAC selection committees.
