The RPI softball team increased its winning streak to 13 as the Red Hawks dominated over Middlebury College, the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and St. Lawrence University in three sets of doubleheaders this past week. The Red Hawks improved to 19-3 overall, and 2-0 in the Liberty League, while Middlebury evened out at 7-7 overall. MCLA finished at 3-17 overall, and SLU is now 3-13 overall, and 0-2 in Liberty League play.
Last Tuesday afternoon, the Middlebury Panthers made the trek from their home in Vermont to face off against the Red Hawks. Freshman Jen Bach opened up scoring in game one of the twin bill with a two-run homerun, bringing in classmate Alysa Rochminski in the bottom of the third. RPI led the game 5-0 through five innings, but it was still too much as the Panthers made a last-minute drive to the finish, scoring three runs in the top of the seventh. The final score was 5-3, RPI. Bach finished two-for-three, with two runs scored and four runs batted in. Sophomore pitcher Michelle Bianchetti improved to 5-1 on the season, allowing only three runs on four hits, striking out seven, and walking two through 6.1 innings of play. The loss was credited to Middlebury senior pitcher Brittany Burke, who allowed five runs on six hits in five innings.
In game two, junior hurler Michelle Street allowed only one run on four hits, and struck out four as RPI won its second of the day, 3-1. The Red Hawks scored two runs in the first two innings, but Middlebury split that lead in half when sophomore Kristen Maletsky was walked with the bases loaded to bring in junior Amelia Magistrali in the top of the third. Senior Courtney Sweeney added one more run in the fourth, her second of the day, to close out scoring on the afternoon. Middlebury freshman Ali McAnaey shouldered the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits, with two strikeouts in six innings.
The Red Hawks outscored their opponents 16-1 in their two victories over the MCLA Trailblazers at Doris Robison field on Thursday, winning 8-1 and 8-0, respectively. In both game, RPI scored their eight runs on only ten hits. Junior catcher Julianne Bass had three hits, two runs, and two RBI’s in the game one triumph, including two singles and one double. RPI scored three of their runs in the bottom of the first inning, and added four more in the fourth before finishing off with one more run in the fifth. Freshmen Felicia Bua and Bach split pitching, combining for no earned runs and seven strikeouts on four hits.
The second game of the afternoon ended early as the Red Hawks invoked the mercy rule on the Trailblazers. A game is stopped once a certain number of runs are scored by one team in a specified period of time, usually eight runs in five innings, as was the case that afternoon. Street allowed only one hit and walked none as she struck out nine in the win. Rochminski lead the Red Hawks, scoring two runs including her first homerun of the season, as well as batting in three on three hits. Bass and Sweeney also had homeruns in a five-run fifth inning.
Sunday’s doubleheader saw the Red Hawks steamroll the Saints in two games that were both ended early due to the mercy rule. The games were also the Liberty League openers for both teams. St. Lawrence started scoring in game one, when sophomore Molly Swan was walked with the bases loaded to bring in Saints freshman Melissa Rogers in the first. RPI quickly responded, scoring four times in the bottom of the inning. Four straight hits, including a double by senior Beth Gargon, pulled the Red Hawks ahead, 4-1. St. Lawrence would add one more tally in the second, before RPI added one more run in the third, four in the fourth, and another in the fifth. Jen Bach went three-for-four, with a two-run homerun, two runs scored, and three runs batted in. Senior Logan Russell also added a two-run double in the fourth. Street allowed only two runs on three hits in three innings, including three strikeouts and four walks. Bua relieved with a perfect final two innings, striking out three Saints in the 10-2 win.
Rensselaer scored all eight runs during the bottom of the first in their game two shutout of St. Lawrence. Only one run was earned, however, as the Saints’ defense made three errors on the first four batters. Freshman Genevieve Falco paved the way for the Red Hawks, belting a three-run homerun on her first at-bat. Junior center fielder Sara Finkbeiner went five-for-six on the day, scoring four of RPI’s 18 runs. Bianchetti pitched the win, allowing only three hits.
Following this week’s impressive showing by the Red Hawks, three players were named to the Liberty League’s weekly awards. Finkbeiner was named offensive player of the week, going 10-for-17 with a 0.588 batting average, scoring nine runs, two RBI’s, and stealing three bases. Street earned the title of pitcher of the week after going undefeated in three games, and having a 1.40 earned run average. In 15 innings of play, she allowed only three runs on eight hits, and held the opposition to a 0.157 batting average, as well as striking out 17 batters, and only walking nine. Rochminski, rounding out the honors, was named rookie of the week, after holding a team-leading 0.846 batting average last week, and adding two doubles, a homerun, three runs scored, and four runs batted in to the box scores.
The results of the Red Hawk’s first doubleheader in their mid-season road trip against Springfield College were not available at time of printing. RPI faces off against Castleton State on Wednesday, and the Rochester Institute of Technology on Monday, as well as another Liberty League match-up against the University of Rochester on Sunday. All games will be doubleheaders.
