Game 1 Box / Game 2 Box

ALBANY, N.Y. – Behind a two-hit shutout by freshman pitcher Felicia Bua (Gilford, NH/Gilford), the Rensselaer softball team completed a two-game sweep of Nazareth College this afternoon at Albany Field. The Red Hawks, who won game one 4-1, took game two 3-0 behind Bua’s strong outing. With the victories, RPI improves to 13-3 on the season, while the Golden Flyers fall to 6-8.

Senior Beth Gargon (East Hampton, CT/East Hampton) got the scoring started for the Red Hawks in the bottom of the second, hitting a solo home run. Then a pair of walks issued to freshmen Genevieve Falco (Seaford, NY/Seaford) and Alysa Rochminski (Schenectady, NY/Colonie) set up an RBI single by Sara Finkbeiner (Napanoch. NY/Ellenville). An error and wild pitch plated two more RPI runs to give the Red Hawks a 4-0 lead.

Nazareth scored its lone run of game in the top of the fourth. Pitcher Lisa Nazarenko (Victor, NY/Victor) reached on a one-out double, and came around to score on an error. She finished the game 1 for 3 with a run scored at the plate. Freshman Katie Valerio (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon) also went 1 for 3 with a double.

From the circle Nazarenko completed 6.0 innings and allowed four runs (two earned) on three hits. She walked five and struck out five in a losing effort.

Leading the way for the Red Hawks was Finkbeiner, who went 2 for 3 with a triple, a run scored and a run batted in. Gargon ended up 1 for 2 with the home run and a sacrifice bunt. Sophomore hurler Michelle Bianchetti (Highland Mills, NY/John S. Burke Catholic) did not allow an earned run in picking up the complete game victory. She threw 7.0 innings, allowing one run (unearned) on four hits and a walk and had five strikeouts.

Game two saw Bua shut down the Golden Flyers’ bats as she allowed just two hits – both singles – over 7.0 innings to improve to 4-0 on the season. She walked one batter and struck out four, while not allowing a base runner past second base.

RPI freshman Jen Bach (Lansdale, PA/Gwynedd Mercy Academy) broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-run single, which scored pinch runner Logan Russell (Cranbury, NJ/Princeton) and Rochminski. 

Graduate student Courtney Sweeney added an RBI single in the sixth to put the Red Hawks up 3-0. Sweeney finished 2 for 3 with a run batted in. Bach also ended up 2 for 3 with two RBI.

Leading the way offensively for Nazareth was sophomore second baseman Laura Finan (Melrose, NY/Tamarac) who went 1 for 2.

RPI returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts Middlebury at Doris Robison Field (4pm).