Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Game 1 Box /
Game 2 Box
CLERMONT, Fla. – Rensselaer battled back from a tough loss earlier in the day to pick up its first win of the season this afternoon, downing Wesleyan, 15-7 in five innings, as the team opened their annual spring trip in Florida. The Engineers fell to The College of New Jersey, 10-2, in the morning opener. Senior Jen Bach paced RPI offensively, going 4 for 7 on the day with a homerun and seven runs batted in.
After a tough loss to the Lions, the Engineers came out swinging against Wesleyan as they grabbed a 3-1 lead after the first inning. RPI continued to rack up the runs in the bottom of the second as five crossed the plate to make it an 8-1 advantage. The Cardinals answered in the top of the third with four runs of their own, but RPI sealed the game in the bottom of the inning with six runs.
Wesleyan was able to tack on a pair of runs in the fifth inning, but it wasn't enough to overcome the mercy-rule deficit. Bach (Lansdale, PA/Gwynedd Mercy Academy) picked up the victory, allowing five runs on seven hits over two and two-thirds innings pitched. Freshman Charlene Osmanski (Elmhurst, IL/York) came on in relief, surrendering two runs (1 earned) on three hits over the final two and a third.
Offensively, the Engineers were led by rookie Jen Shields (North Reading, MA/North Reading), who went 4 for 4 at the plate. Among her hits were three singles and a double with three runs scored and four RBI. Bach was 3 for 4 with six runs batted in, while junior Kelly Erkert (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Township) went 2 for 3 with three runs scored.
Wesleyan vs. Rensselaer Line Score
| Innings |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
| Wesleyan |
1 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
x |
x |
7 |
10 |
2 |
| Rensselaer |
3 |
5 |
6 |
1 |
x |
x |
x |
15 |
14 |
2 |
RPI Pitching: Jen Bach - 2 2/3 innings, 5 runs, 7 hits, 1 BB
Charlene Osmanski - 2 1/3 innings, 2 runs (1 ER), 3 hits, 0 BB
Wesleyan Pitching: : Dana Levy - 1 1/3 innings, 8 runs (7 ER), 7 hits, 2 BB
Caitlyn Grudzinski - 2 2/3 innings, 7 runs, 7 hits, 1 BB, 1 HBP
Game one saw the Lions and Engineers deadlocked at two runs heading into the sixth inning before TCNJ exploded for eight runs as 12 batters made their way to the plate with eight of them eventually scoring. After RPI recorded an out on the first batter of the inning, seven straight Lions reached base as all of them scored. Sophomore Kelly Hommen (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) had key hit in the inning bringing home a pair of runs with a single.
Pitcher Lauren Fitzsimmons (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) threw three scoreless innings of relief with four strikeouts. Freshman pitcher Austin Leigh (Fairfield, NJ/West Essex) started for the Lions and yielded only three hits and a pair of runs.
For Rensselaer, Bach went 1 for 3, notching her first homerun of the season in the fourth inning. Junior catcher Sara Heller (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) also went 1 for 3, while sophomore leftfielder Caitlin McGivern (Bethlehem, PA/Notre Dame) was 1 for 2 with a run batted in.
In the circle, senior Felicia Bua (Gilford, NH/Gilford) shouldered the loss despite a solid effort, allowing four runs (1 earned) on nine hits through 5.1 innings pitched. She also had four strikeouts. Bach also pitched for the Engineers, surrendering six runs on four hits in two-thirds of an inning.
RPI is back in action on Sunday as it continues its Florida trip with games against Wisconsin-Stout (9:30am) and Bethany (1:30pm).
