Box Score

ALBANY, N.Y. - With eight different players recording hits, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team defeated St. Lawrence in the opener of this weekend's Liberty League Tournament, 17-1 in 5.0 innings. The victory moves RPI to 26-9 on the season, while the Saints slip to 11-20.

The Engineers will face the winner of the Rochester/Union matchup in the tournament's second round tomorrow (12:30pm), while St. Lawrence will face the loser (10am). All games are being played at Cummings Haker Field at the Plumeri Sports Complex.

Rensselaer took a first inning lead and never looked back. Senior Jen Bach (Lansdale, PA/Gwynedd Mercy Academy) got things started in the first with an RBI-single to left center that scored junior Kelly Erkert (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Township), who had reached on error.

Classmate Sara Heller (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) plated the Engineers' second run with a single up the middle to score rookie Jen Shields (North Reading, MA/North Reading). Freshman Charlene Osmanski (Elmhurst, NY/York) and Genevieve Falco (Seaford, NY/Seaford) both followed with RBIs in the inning, giving RPI a 4-0 advantage by the end of the frame.

St. Lawrence's only run of the day came in the top of the third, when it drew within 5-1. Sophomore Darcy Buckingham (Lowville, NY/Beaver River) reached on a bunt single, then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on a wild pitch. Classmate Lauren Weisbarth's (Toronto, ON/York Mills Collegiate) single to center field drove her in.

RPI got out of the inning, then brought in senior Felicia Bua (Gilford, NH/Gilford) to pitch the fourth and fifth. Bua shut down the Saints' offense in 2.0 innings of work, not allowing a hit. She struck out two and walked one.

The Engineers secured their victory in their half of the third, tallying five runs for a 10-1 lead. Sophomore Gillian McCarthy (Worthington, OH/Thomas Worthington) highlighted the inning with a three-run triple to right center.

RPI circled the batting order in the fourth inning, tallying seven more runs for a 17-1 final advantage. Among the Engineers' four hits in the frame were doubles from Falco and Heller, who tallied their second RBI each. 

Offensively, Rensselaer was led on offense by McCarthy, who went 2-for-3 at the plate with five RBI and two runs scored. Bach followed with three RBI on 2-for-3 hitting. Buckingham and Weisbarth recorded St. Lawrence's only two hits. 

Bach earned the win from the circle, allowing just the one run on two hits in 3.0 innings pitched. She struck out four and walked one. Saints' Rachel Duffany (Watertown, NY/Watertown) suffered the loss, surrendering five runs (two earned) on six hits in 1.2 innings.