Game 1 Box / Game 2 Box

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Freshman Kate Stira’s (Durham, CT/Coginchaug) two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning propelled Rensselaer to an 8-6 victory in game one of a doubleheader with Union to give the Red Hawks a split. Union won 8-4 in the night cap.

Union (21-7; 3-1 Liberty League) led 3-0 after the first inning and held a 5-2 lead after three, but the Red Hawks charged back with four runs in the top of the fourth to take a 6-5 lead. Sophomore Julianne Bass (Costa Mesa, CA/Newport Harbor) and freshman Natalie Gendron (Auburn, NH/Manchester Memorial) led the way, opening the inning with back-to-back homeruns.

The visiting Red Hawks (18-8; 3-3 Liberty League) would add two more runs in the top of the seventh backed by solid pitching from sophomore hurler Michelle Street (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse-Minoa). Street, who improves to 9-4 with the win, allowed six runs (5 earned) on nine hits with a walk and six strikeouts in 7.0 innings.

Sophomore Megan Kaknis (New Windsor, NY/NFA) continued her hot hitting for the Dutchwomen, going 3 for 4 with two runs and three RBI. In the circle for Union, freshman Ginny Sack (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills) shouldered the loss, allowing two runs on two hits in 3.2 innings of relief. Starter Lindsay Colvin (Medfield, MA/Medfield) went 3.1 innings with eight runs allowed.

Game two saw Union earn the split, tallying four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for the win. Rensselaer gained the early lead on a home run by Stira, which started a four-run flurry for the Red Hawks. Junior Beth Gargon (East Hampton, CT/East Hampton) capped the inning with a two-run single to left, but it would be the last offense RPI could muster as the Dutchwomen posted three runs in the third, tied it at 4-4 in the fifth and grabbed the lead for good in the sixth.

Sack rebounded in the circle for Union, allowing four runs on 12 hits in 7.0 innings. Offensively, sophomore Michelle Rogers (Clarence, NY/Clarence) went 1 for 2 with three runs and an RBI while senior Colleen White (Westport, CT/Staples) had two runs batted in.

For Rensselaer, freshman Michelle Bianchetti (Highland Mills, NY/John S. Burke Catholic) suffered the loss, allowing seven runs on eight hits in 5.0 innings. Street pitched an inning of relief with one walk. Gargon was 2 for 4 with two RBI and freshman Becky Bailey (Rome, NY/Holland Patent) went 2 for 2 with a run scored.

The Red Hawks return to action on Saturday with a twinbill at Nazareth (2pm) and close out the weekend with a doubleheader at Skidmore on Sunday (1pm). Union is back on the field on Sunday when it hosts St. Lawrence for a twinbill (12pm).