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ITHACA, N.Y. - The Rensselaer softball team battled back from an early deficit, scoring nine of the game's final 10 runs, to defeat Ithaca, 9-7, in the second game of a non-league doubleheader. The Bombers won the first game, 8-7, in eight innings and are now 7-6. RPI is 7-7.

In the nightcap, Ithaca scored six runs in the first two innings to build a commanding lead. The Engineers came back with five runs in the top of the third inning, highlighted by four hits, including a two-RBI single by DP Charlene Osmanski (Elmhurst, IL / York).

Both teams tacked on single runs over the next two innings and RPI faced a one-run deficit (7-6) heading into its final at bats. The visitors got two runners on base with one out, which brought up junior first baseman Gillian McCarthy (Worthington, OH / Thomas Worthington), who hit a three-run home run to left field for the lead.

Freshman Kristina Weltzin (Commerce Town, MI / Walled Lake Northern High School) closed out the game - a complete game for her - by allowing just one hit in the bottom of the seventh inning. She is now 5-5 on the season.

Offensively, the top five hitters in the lineup combined for nine of the team's 10 hits with eight runs and eight RBI. McCarthy finished with a hit, two runs and four RBI, while Osmanski had two hits, including a double, and three runs batted in.

For Ithaca, junior Molly O'Donnell (Niskayuna, NY / Niskayuna) was 4 for 4 with a double, a home run, two runs and four RBI. She was 2 for 4 with a home run, a run and three runs batted in in the first game. Sophomore Sam Bender (Levittown, PA / Neshaminy) took the loss in relief.

In the first game, Rensselaer scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning for a 7-3 lead but Ithaca scored four times in the seventh and once in the extra inning to defeat the Engineers, 8-7 in eight innings.

The game's final run came across on a two-out single to centerfield with runners on first and second base. While the runner from second was thrown out at the plate on the play, the umpires conferred and agreed there was obstruction by an RPI player between second and third base. The umpires ruled the runner would have been safe at home without such obstruction and awarded the run to Ithaca.

RPI trailed 3-0 after two innings but scored the next seven runs, including four in the fifth, before the Bombers rallied. Ithaca tied it in the seventh before winning in the ninth.

RPI had three student-athletes collect multiple hits in the first game. McCarthy and freshman shortstop Aimee Konet (Houston, TX / Friendswood High School) both had two hits and two RBI, while sophomore third baseman Dani Grage (Pittsford, NY / Pittsford Mendon) had a single, a double and a run. Freshman leftfielder Jocilyn Rudisill (Galloway, NJ / Absegami High School) added a double, two runs and two runs batted in.

Osmanski went the first 6.0 innings before giving way to Weltzin, who suffered the loss.

Ithaca sophomore Jillian Olmstead (Magnolia, DE / Caesar Rodney) earned the win in relief.