Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ONEONTA, N.Y. - Red Dragons freshman hurler Rachel Hitt outdueled Rensselaer rookie Kristina Weltzin on Tuesday to help lift the Oneonta State softball team to a split against the Engineers.  Oneonta (7-13) took game 1 of the doubleheader, 1-0, behind Hitt's complete game five-hitter, while RPI (15-9) posted a 5-1 win in game two.
 
The game remained deadlocked at zeros going into the bottom of the seventh when senior Kalyn Deso (Schenectady/South Colonie) started the inning off with a single to left center. She later moved to second base after an error by an Engineer infielder. Chandler Campbell (Port Jervis/Port Jervis) came to the plate with two outs and roped a shot to left center that brought Deso home from second for the game-winning run.
 
Rensselaer (15-9) left eight runners on base, including two innings with runners on second and third, but Hitt was able to shut the Engineers down. Hitt picks up her second win of the season after striking out three batters and only walking two.
 
Deso finished game one with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate. Freshman Nicole Marzillo (Bay Shore/Bay Shore) had the only extra base hit for the Red Dragons with a double in fourth inning.
 
In the second game, Rensselaer took a 4-0 lead after four. All of their runs came after the Red Dragons were able to get the batter and base runner on a double play.
 
Winning pitcher Charlene Osmanski helped her own cause when she walked and moved to second on a single by Tori Hunt.  Jen Shields was then hit by a pitch that was followed by a single to left center by Dani Grage. The hit brought home the game's first two runs. Samantha Paulding followed with a double to left field to bring home the other runs of the inning.
 
The Red Dragons scored in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to 4-1. Sophomore Laura Loudis (Loundonville/Colonie Central) singled to right center and moved to second on a shot back at the pitcher by Brianna Rivera (Pomona/North Rockland). Loudis scored on an error by the shortstop for Oneonta's only run.
 
The Engineers got an insurance run in the seventh when Jocilyn Rudsill singled. Rudisill scored on a double by Sara Heller.
 
 Oneonta is scheduled to play a home doubleheader tomorrow versus Ithaca College beginning at 3:00 p.m.  Rensselaer opens its home schedule on Sunday, welcoming Union to Doris Robison Field for a twinbill at 1pm.