Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Game 1 Box / Game 2 Box
Saratoga Springs, N.Y. - The Rensselaer softball team improved to 22-8 overall and 5-3 in Liberty League play with a 16-5, 12-3 sweep of Skidmore on Sunday at Skidmore Field. The Thoroughbreds end the season at 12-21 and 0-8.
The Red Hawks scored 16 runs on 15 hits, including a pair of home runs by Sara Finkbeiner (Napanoch, NY/Ellenville) and one by Julianne Bass (Costa Mesa, CA/Newport Harbor).
The Red Hawks built an 8-0 lead with three runs in the first inning and five in the second. Bass keyed the first-inning rally with a two-run double and had a two-run homer in the second. Finkbeiner had a three-run home run in the second.
Skidmore battled back with a pair of runs in the second but RPI came right back with three unearned runs in the top of the third to extend its lead to 11-2. Bass had a two-run single.
The Thoroughbreds responded with three runs in the bottom of the third, but Finkbeiner’s grand slam keyed a five-run sixth for the Red Hawks. She went 2 for 4 with two home runs and seven RBI. Bass was 4 for 5 with a home run, two doubles, and six RBI. Freshman Michelle Blanchetti (Highland Mills, NY/John S. Burke Catholic) earned the win in relief with four shutout innings.
In the second game, Rensselaer catcher Beth Gargon (East Hampton, CT/East Hampton) went 3 for 4 with two home runs and three RBI to lead the Red Hawks to the 12-3 win.
RPI jumped out to an 8-0 lead after two innings, highlighted by Gargon's two-run blast and a three-run home run by Kate Stira (Durham, CT/Coginchaug) in a five-run second.
Skidmore scored twice in the third but Gargon led off the fifth with her second home run, the sixth of the afternoon for the Red Hawks.
The Thoroughbreds picked up a final run in the fifth for the final margin.
Finkbeiner was 2 for 4 with a run to finish the afternoon, 4 for 8 with four runs and seven RBI. Gargon was 5 for 7 with five runs and three RBI in the two games.
Bianchetti earned her second win of the day, allowing one earned run on five hits, one walk and four strikeouts.
