Game 1 Box / Game 2 Box

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Led by a 5 for 8 performance from freshman Jen Bach (Lansdale, PA/Gwynedd Mercy Academy), the Rensselaer softball team swept RIT, 5-1 and 6-3. The Red Hawks improve to 23-7 overall while the Tigers drop to 16-18 on the season.

Bach put RPI up 1-0 in the first inning of game one with an RBI single. The homestanding Tigers came back to tie things up in the bottom of the third, but Rensselaer added two runs in the top of the sixth and seventh innings to hold on for the victory.

Leading the way for the Red Hawks was Bach, who went 3 for 4 with a run scored and three RBI. Among her hits was a two-run home run in the top of the sixth for the go-ahead lead. Senior Logan Russell (Cranberry, NJ/Princeton) also had a solid afternoon, going 3 for 3 with a run scored.

Freshman hurler Felicia Bua (Guilford, NH/Guilford) improved to 6-1 on the season after allowing just one run on six hits through seven innings pitched. She struck out five and surrendered no walks.

For RIT, Amanda Moorehouse suffered the loss after allowing five runs on nine hits through seven innings.

Game two saw freshman Genevieve Falco (Seaford, NY/Seaford) put the visiting Red Hawks up 3-0 in the opening frame after cracking a two-run home run to add to junior Julianne Bass’s (Costa Mesa, CA/Newport Harbor) run-scoring single.

The Tigers pulled within two at the bottom of the first inning off an RBI double from Stephanie Nailos. RIT pulled to within one (3-2) after three innings, but the Red Hawks added a run in the top of the fourth and two runs in the top of the sixth to hang on for the victory.

Falco finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and two runs batted in while Bach was also 2 for 4 with a run scored and two RBI. Bass added a 3 for 4 performance with a run and an RBI.

Junior pitcher Michelle Street (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse-Minoa) earned the win for RPI, allowing three runs on eight hits through five innings. She struck out four while walking three. Sophomore Michelle Bianchetti (Highland Mills, NY/John S. Burke Catholic) came on in relief, allowing just one hit through the final two innings.

Shouldering the loss again for RIT was Moorehouse, who allowed six runs on 14 hits through seven innings.

Rensselaer returns to action on Wednesday with a doubleheader at Williams College (4pm). RIT will play a twinbill on Thursday against SUNY Morrisville (3pm).