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

NEWBURGH, N.Y. – Junior Jen Bach pitched the Rensselaer softball team to a game one victory and rookie Gillian McCarthy was a combined 6 for 9 at the plate as the Engineers defeated Mount Saint Mary, 12-2, and, 9-0, in non-conference action on Thursday. With the victories, which were both six-inning affairs, RPI moves to 7-10 on the season. The Blue Knights fall to 8-12.

Game one saw Rensselaer jump out to the early lead, going up 2-0 in the top of the second inning. The Engineers then tacked on six more runs in the third, powered by a six-run, two-out effort.

Sophomore Samantha Paulding (Baldwinsville, NY/CW Baker) started the rally with a two-run single to right field. RPI was able to add to its advantage thanks to three Blue Knights' errors and McCarthy (Worthington, OH/Thomas Worthington) knocked in a pair of runs with another hit to right field.

Bach (Lansdale, PA/Gwynedd Mercy Academy) kept Mount Saint Mary at bay, pitching 6.0 innings for the victory. She allowed just two runs (1 earned), while surrendering just four hits with four strikeouts.

Offensively, eight different batters collected hits for the Engineers led by Paulding, who went 2 for 3 with two runs and two RBI. Senior captain Becky Bailey (Rome, NY/Holland Patent) had a 3 for 4 effort at the plate with two runs batted in and two runs scored, while sophomore Sara Heller (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) was also 3 for 4 with a pair of runs scored.

Junior Felicia Bua (Gilford, NH/Gilford) pitched RPI to victory in game two, allowing just four hits and no runs through 6.0 innings pitched. She also had three strikeouts and gave up just one walk in the game.

Leading the way at the plate was McCarthy and Bach, who both went 4 for 4 at the plate. RPI opened a 2-0 lead in the first inning behind a two-run single from junior Genevieve Falco (Seaford, NY/Seaford) and held a five-run advantage (5-0) after four innings played.

Rensselaer ended the game in the sixth-inning, scoring four runs, including a two-run double off the bat of Falco, to enforce the 8-run mercy rule. Falco finished 3 for 4 on the afternoon with a game-high four RBI. McCarthy added three runs scored and two RBI, while Bach had a run batted in with two runs scored.

Rensselaer returns to the diamond on Friday with a doubleheader at Castleton State. Action is set to begin at 3pm. The Blue Knights are back in action on Saturday, hosting the College of Saint Vincent for a pair of games (12pm).