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TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore Nina Cervini singled home the winning run in the eighth inning to lead the Union College softball team to a 3-2 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in the first game of a Liberty League doubleheader at Doris Robison Field. The Dutchwomen then captured the nightcap, 4-1, behind a complete game by senior Ginni Sack.

Union improves to 24-8 overall and 5-1 in the Liberty League – good enough for first place – while RPI falls to 14-15-1 and 1-3.

In the opener, Rensselaer jumped ahead with a pair of solo home runs in the fourth inning. Junior Jen Bach (Landsdale, PA/Gwynedd Mercy Academy) broke the school record for career home runs with her eighth of the season and 27th overall. Two batters later, Sara Heller (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) hit one out of the park.

The Dutchwomen tied the score with a two-run sixth inning. Cervini (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) knocked in the first run with a one-out single up the middle and the next batter, Alexandra King (Chester Springs, PA/The Shipley School), did the same. In the eighth inning, junior Callee Heywood (Innisfail, AB/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame) singled, advanced to second base on a wild pitch and scored on Cervini's hit, her second of the game.

Senior Tiffany Ippoliti (Victory Mills, NY/Schuylerville) allowed eight hits with seven strikeouts to outduel Bach, who allowed six hits with six strikeouts. She was also 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI.

The second game saw Sack (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills) allow no earned runs and six hits in a complete game victory. She was outstanding in holding RPI at bay in the fifth inning when it had the bases loaded and no outs trailing by two runs (3-1).

RPI's Felicia Bua (Gilford, NH/Gilford) suffered the loss, giving up just two earned runs on eight hits in 7.0 innings. Bach again led the RPI offense, going 2 for 4. Union saw six players collect one hit apiece, while junior centerfielder Becky Gronczniak (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) was 2 for 3 with an RBI.

The Engineers are scheduled to be back in action with a Liberty League doubleheader against the University of Rochester on Sunday in Hamilton, N.Y. Union is scheduled to travel to St. Lawrence for a league twinbill on Sunday.