Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1 Box / Game 2 Box

TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and St. Lawrence University softball teams combined for 47 runs and 60 hits in Sunday's Liberty League opening doubleheader at Doris Robison Field. The host Engineers won game one, 10-9, while the visiting Saints held on for a 15-13 victory in game two. RPI is now 12-12 overall, while St. Lawrence moves to 11-8. Both teams are 1-1 in conference play.

Game one saw the Engineers pull off a dramatic seventh inning victory as RPI capitalized on the fifth St. Lawrence error of the game to push across the winning run. The Saints, who headed into top of the seventh inning down, 9-5, erased the deficit behind four runs on four hits to tie the game at 9-all. Leading the way in the frame were back-to-back hits from senior Jess Manderfield (Davisburg, MI/Troy Athens) and junior Melissa Rogers (Clarence, NY/Clarence).

Rensselaer came out swinging quickly to open the bottom half of the seventh frame as junior Alyssa Rochminski (Schenectady, NY/Colonie) singled to left and advanced to second on a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt by senior Becky Bailey (Rome, NY/Holland Patent). With two outs on the board, rookie Caitlin McGivern (Bethlehem, PA/Notre Dame) hit one to the shortstop, who was unable to get a handle on the ball, giving RPI the opportunity to bring across the winning run.

The Engineers, who at one point held a 9-3 lead in the contest after an explosive seven-run third inning, were led by a 2 for 4 performance from McGivern, who also had three runs batted in. Junior Felicia Bua (Gilford, NH/Gilford) earned the victory, allowing four runs on four hits in 1.0 innings of work. She came on in relief of classmate Jen Bach (Lansdale, PA/Gwynedd Mercy Academy), who went 6.0 innings with five runs allowed on 13 hits.

St. Lawrence, which had eight players record hits in the contest, was led by a 3 for 4 effort from senior Molly Swan (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa). All three of her hits were doubles. In the circle, rookie Elizabeth McGinley (Canastota, NY/Canastota) shouldered the loss, allowing 10 runs on 12 hits. She also had three strikeouts.

In game two, Rensselaer once again found itself with the lead (8-4) after four innings of play, but the visitors came charging back to open the fifth inning with a four-run effort. Led by a two RBI double from senior Amy Atkins (Westerlo, NY/Doane Stuart), St. Lawrence tied the game and tacked on three more runs in the sixth inning to hold an 11-10 advantage heading into the final inning.

The Saints, which pushed across four more runs in the top of the seventh behind a three-run double from graduate student Emilie Lannamann (Durham, NH/Proctor Academy), nearly saw the win slip away. With two on in the bottom of the frame, sophomore Sara Heller (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) hit her first homerun of the season over the left center wall to drive in three runs, but McGinley stayed composed in the circle and was able to shut down the side to seal the win for the visitors.

At the plate, Lannamann went 3 for 4 with five RBI and two runs scored. Swan was 2 for 4 while Atkins went 2 for 3. Both players drove in three runs batted in. McGinley earned the victory, allowing six runs on nine hits through 5 and two/thirds innings of relief. Rookie Rebecca McKenzie (Colts Neck, NJ/Colts Neck) started the contest, surrendering seven runs on six hits.

For RPI, Heller was 3 for 5 with five RBI, while Bach went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBI. She also pitched the final inning of the game, allowing four runs on four hits. Bua shouldered the loss in 6.0 innings, allowing 11 runs on 12 hits.

Rensselaer returns to the diamond on Tuesday with a doubleheader at Williams (4pm). St. Lawrence is also in action on Tuesday with a twinbill at Potsdam State (3pm).