Game 1 Box / Game 2 Box

In a Senior Day doubleheader that featured a come-from-behind victory in game one, and a seventh inning defeat in game two, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team forced a split with Rochester in today's Liberty League matchup. The Engineers move to 17-7 overall and 3-1 in the league, while Rochester ends its regular season with a 23-13 overall record (6-2 Liberty League).

Trailing 2-1 in game one, Rensselaer came from behind with a six-run fifth, tallying eight hits in the inning for an eventual 7-5 victory over the Yellowjackets. In game two, however, RPI saw a 3-2 seventh inning lead vanish, as Rochester scored four unanswered runs for a 6-3 victory.

In the fifth inning of game one, Alysa Rochminski (Schenectady, NY/Colonie) got things going with a single, advancing to third on a double by junior Kelly Erkert (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Township). A clutch hit by rookie Jen Shields (North Reading, MA/North Reading), just fair down the right field line, brought home the tying run in Rochminski. Gillian McCarthy (Worthington, OH/Thomas Worthington) drove in the go-ahead run with a single to right field, and RPI would tack on four more runs before the inning came to a close for a 7-2 lead.

The Jackets mounted a comeback effort in the sixth, scoring three runs to draw within two. Erin Clark (Mannsville, NY/Sandy Creek Central) led off with a double to left center, later coming around to score. Two more runs would come across, but the Engineers held on for the narrow victory.

Senior Genevieve Falco (Seaford, NY/Seaford) paced the RPI offense, going 3-for-3 with two RBI. Sara Heller (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two batted in.

From the circle, senior Felicia Bua (Gilford, NH/Gilford) earned the win, giving up five runs on seven hits in 5.0 innings. Freshman Charlene Osmanski (Elmhurst, IL/York) gave up just one hit in 2.0 innings of relief, earning her third save of the season. For Rochester, Madeline Skellie (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich Central) shouldered the loss, giving up seven runs on nine hits in 4.1 innings.

Locked in a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning of game two, senior Jen Bach (Lansdale, PA/Gwynedd Mercy Academy) put the Engineers on top with a two-run shot over the fence in center field, her 11th homer of the season.

Rochester made it a one-run game in the fifth inning, when Natalee Sassaman (Phoenixville, PA/Pottstown) drove in McLean with an RBI single. The Jackets grabbed the lead for good in the top of the seventh, as Liz Slupinski (Hamburg, NY/Hamburg) drove in the go-ahead runs with a two-out, three-run double to left center.

Bach, who led the RPI offense with a 2-for-2 effort and all three runs batted in, was charged with the loss, giving up six runs (five earned) on eight hits in a 7.0 inning complete game effort. Skellie, who came on in relief for Rochester, earned the victory, pitching 3.0 innings and allowing just one hit.

The Engineers continue their home stand tomorrow, when they play Williams in a non-league doubleheader beginning at 3:30pm. Rochester has concluded its regular season schedule, and will play next in the Liberty League Tournament (TBA).