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

TROY, N.Y. – Junior Jen Bach drove in the winning runs in game one and classmate Felicia Bua held off the Pioneers in game two as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team swept a doubleheader over Utica College at Doris Robison Field. The Engineers came-from-behind to win, 5-4, in game one, and claimed a 10-4 victory in the nightcap. RPI improves to 14-13-1 overall, while Utica drops to 12-26 on the season.

Game one saw the Engineers facing a 4-2 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning. RPI began to mount a comeback as junior Alyssa Rochminski (Schenectady, NY/Colonie) singled through the left side and senior Becky Bailey (Rome, NY/Holland Patent) reached on a throwing error. Rookie Caitlin McGivern (Bethlehem, PA/Notre Dame) then cut the deficit to one (3-4) with a single to left to score Rochminski.

With runners on second and third and one out in the inning, Bach (Landsdale, PA/Gwynedd Mercy Academy) stepped up to the plate and lofted the ball deep to left center. The ball skipped past the fielder's glove, allowing the runners to score and seal the victory.

Bach also picked up the win in the circle, pitching her team-leading ninth complete game of the season. She allowed four runs on seven hits, while striking out four batters and walking just one. Rochminski was 3 for 3, including a homerun in the third inning, with three runs scored.

For Utica, freshman Jaclyn Gallagher (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Putnam Valley) was 1 for 4, driving in three runs on a homerun to deep center in the third inning. Junior Madison Dinsmore (Theresa, NY/LaFargeville) shouldered the loss in the circle, surrendering three runs on four hits..

In game two, the Engineers broke up a pitcher's duel in the bottom of the fourth inning, pushing across five runs on five hits. Highlights from the inning included a long drive to deep center off the bat of freshman Gillian McCarthy (Worthington, OH/Thomas Worthington).

Down 6-1 in the top of the sixth inning, the Pioneers were able to score a pair and cut the deficit to three (6-3), but Rensselaer came back with a vengeance, belting out three homeruns with two outs in the inning for a 10-3 advantage. Leading the way was McCarthy, whose second shot of the game brought in two runs.

The Pioneers battled in the top of the seventh, scoring a run on off back-to-back singles, but Bua (Gilford, NH/Gilford) pitched her way out of trouble as rookie Hannah Barton (Adams Basin, NY/Brockport) struck out swinging to end the game.

Bua allowed four runs on nine hits to pick up the victory, striking out six batters with just one walk allowed. Offensively, McCarthy went 2 for 4 – both hits were homeruns – with two runs scored and three RBI, while Bailey hit her first career homerun.

Utica saw seven players record hits, led by a 3 for 4 effort from Gallagher. In the circle, sophomore Haley Butler (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) shouldered the loss, allowing five runs on five hits in 3.1 innings.

Rensselaer celebrates Senior Day on Saturday, hosting Liberty League and area-rival Union for a twinbill at Doris Robison Field (1pm). Utica is back on the field on Friday, traveling to Hamilton for a doubleheader against the Continentals (3:30pm).