Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

TROY, N.Y. - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) scored six runs in the third inning and the Engineers went on to defeat the University of Rochester, 9-6, to salvage a split of a Liberty League softball doubleheader at Doris Robison Field.

RPI, which dropped the first game by a score of 5-1, improves to 21-11 overall and 7-1 in the league. The Engineers move into first place over the Yellowjackets, who are now 22-11 and 6-2.

In the nightcap, Rensselaer found itself trailing by three runs entering the third inning, but RPI scored six times on five hits for a 6-3 lead. The first three batters got on base in front of senior Sara Heller (Guilderland, NY / Guilderland), who plated the first run with a single. Junior Gillian McCarthy (Worthington, OH/Thomas Worthington) walked for an RBI and Charlene Osmanski (Elmhurst, IL / York) tied the game with a sacrifice fly that scored Jocilyn Rudisill (Galloway, NJ / Absegami), before Tori Hunt (Cheshire, MA / Hoosac Valley) doubled for another run. A Samantha Paulding (Baldwinsville, NY / CW Baker) single down the left field line scored the final two two runs.

Rochester came back to score two runs in the fourth but RPI answered with three more in their half of the inning, highlighted by a two-run home run from Heller and another run-scoring double from Hunt, for a 9-5 lead.

Paulding (3 for 4), Hunt (2 for 4), Heller (2 for 4) and Rudisill (2 for 3) all had multiple hits as the Engineers compiled 11 in the second game. Osmanski earned the win, pitching 4.0 innings of relief.

For Rochester, Katie McLean (Cazenovia, NY / Cazenovia) and Natalee Sassaman (Phoenixville, PA / Pottstown) each had multiple hits. Freshman pitcher Brittany Grage (Pittsford, NY / Pittsford Mendon) suffered the loss.

In the opener, Rochester scored two runs in each of the last two innings to turn a 1-1 tie into a 5-1 victory. Grage opened the top of the sixth inning with a double to left center. Sassaman, the next batter, was hit by a pitch and both runners were sacrificed up a base. Following a pop out, senior leftfielder Cara Celorio (Scotia, NY / Scotia-Glenville) tripled to left centerfield to give the visitors a 3-1 lead.

Rochester made it a four-run margin when Grage hit a two-run home run to left centerfield with two outs.

RPI took a 1-0 lead when McCarthy started the bottom of the second inning with a home run to centerfield. The Yellowjackets answered right back in the top of the third when Meghan Hennessy (Hamburg, NY / Immaculata Academy) came in from third base on a steal of second base by sophomore Nina Korn (Rochester, NY / Greece Athena).

Grage, whose sister, Dani, plays third base for the Engineers, went 2 for 3 with two runs and two RBI. From the circle she earned the win by allowing just one earned run on nine hits with no walks and four strikeouts. Hennessy also had two hits with one run in three plate appearances.

RPI saw Kelly Erkert (Burlington, NJ / Burlington Township), Osmanski and Hunt each collect two hits. Freshman Kristina Weltzin (Commerce Town, MI / Walled Lake Northern) pitched a complete game in the loss, allowing four earned runs on six hits and three walks. She struck out three batters.