The softball team opened the weekend on Friday with a doubleheader versus Castleton State. Sophomore Michelle Street brought her A-game to the field as she pitched a complete game, allowing just one hit and striking out 17 while allowing no walks.
The Red Hawks won by a score of 5-0, and looked strong in game one, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning after sophomore Julianne Bass singled home a run. After adding a second run in the fourth, RPI put up a three spot in the fifth thanks to a pair of doubles from Bass and freshman Christina Ciccione. That was all the women would need in game won, as they went on to take the contest by that score.
In the second game, the RPI women continued their hot hitting. After two innings Rensselaer was up 2-0, but the Spartans tied it up in the third. The Red Hawks answered back, plating two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth to go up by a score of 10-2, the game’s final margin.
Junior Beth Gargon was a stand-out on the day, hitting 2-3 with a two-run homer, tallying four runs and four RBI. Senior Katherine Valenta also played well, going 3-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Freshman Michelle Bianchetti earned the win on the mound, her fifth of the season, allowing two runs in five innings pitched.
Rensselaer returned to action on Saturday with another doubleheader, this time against third-ranked Ithaca. It was a tough day for RPI, who struggled to get things going, and ended up dropping the contests 6-3 and 7-0.
After the weekend, the softball team now has an overall record of 11-5. The women will be back on the field Thursday afternoon versus Mount Saint Mary at 3pm, home at Doris Robison Field.
