Box Score
Box Score

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – For the third consecutive year the Union College softball team claimed the ECAC Upstate Championship. The top-seeded Dutchwomen went a perfect 3-0 during the tournament and knocked off fourth-seeded RPI, 9-4, in the title game.

Senior Bridget Graham (Orchard Park, NY) was named the tournament's most outstanding player.  For the tournament she batted .462 (6-for-13) with a home run, three RBI, a .692 slugging percentage and a .462 on-base percentage.

Graham led off the title game with a solo home run, sparking a six-run inning for the Dutchwomen. Senior Megan Kaknis (New Windsor, NY) added an RBI single three batters later before sophomore DH Alexandra King (Chester Springs, PA) hit a three-run shot. After RPI produced the first out of the inning, freshman catcher Nina Cervini (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) made is 6-0 with a solo shot.

Union added two runs in the second, but RPI responded with a run in the third off the bat of senior outfielder Sara Finkbeiner (Napanoch, NY). The Red Hawks than posted three runs in the fourth with home runs by senior outfielder Julianne Bass (Costa Mesa, CA) and sophomore third baseman Gen Falco (Seaford, NY).

Kaknis scored on an error in the bottom of the fourth to make it 9-4 and the Dutchwomen defense shut the door the rest of the way.

Junior pitcher Tiffany Ippoliti (Schuylerville, NY/Schuylerville) threw 4.2 innings, striking out five, before junior Ginni Sack (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills) supplied 2.1 innings of hitless relief.

RPI used four pitchers in the game and Finkbeiner stood out, whiffing two batters and allowing zero runs in three innings.