Box Score 1 | Box Score 2


TROY, N.Y. – Senior Sara Heller hit a grand slam in game one and rookie Jocilyn Rudisill tacked on two shots of her own in game two as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team defeated Rochester Institute of Technology, 15-7 and 16-2 - both in five innings - in Liberty League action on Sunday.  With the win, the Engineers are now 23-11 and secure the Liberty League regular season title for the second straight season with a 9-1 record.  The Tigers slip to 11-22 overall and 3-6 in conference play.
 
The Engineers held a 5-0 advantage after the first three innings of play, but the visiting Tigers battled back in a big way, scoring six runs in the top of the fourth inning to take the lead.  Back-to-back homeruns by Kelsey McManus (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon) and Tori Nadow (Charlton, MA/Shepherd Hill) to deep left field got things started.
 
Following a double and an advance on a wild pitch by senior Michelle Tabisz (Silver Spring, MD/Paint Branch), rookie Sarah Wolcott (Cohocton, NY/Wayland-Cohocton) singled down the right field line to cut the gap to 5-4.
 
With an out on the board, RPI made a pitching change to sophomore Charlene Osmanski (Elmhurst, IL/York), who recorded a strike but was unable to stop the Tigers as senior Shannon McCormick (Auburn, NY/Auburn) singled to left to bring in the tying run and RIT took the lead when McCormick later scored on a fielding error.
 
Rensselaer answered in a big way in its own half of the fourth, loading the bases behind a pair of singles from seniors Samantha Paulding (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) and Kelly Erkert (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Township) and a walk to rookie Jocilyn Rudisill (Galloway, NJ/Absegami).
 
Senior catcher Sara Heller (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) changed the game with a swing of the bat, sending a bulleted shot well over the left field wall for a grand slam and her fifth homerun of the season.  Osmanski added a solo homerun to make it a 10-6 advantage for the home team.
 
RIT brought another run across in the top of the fifth, but the Engineers continued to respond in the bottom of the inning.  Facing two outs on the board and runners on first and second, Heller singled to make it 11-7.  Junior Gillian McCarthy (Worthington, OH/Thomas Worthington) then reached on a fielding error by the shortstop, which allowed both runners to score and make it 13-7. 
 
Following an RBI double to left center by sophomore Tori Hunt (Cheshire, MA/Hoosac Valley), the Engineers sealed the victory in five innings on an error by the centerfielder as junior Caitlin McGivern's (Bethlehem, PA/Notre Dame) hit went off her glove to score the final run.
 
Osmanski improved to 6-4 with the win, allowing two runs on three hits with two strikeouts.  She also went 2 for 4 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI.  For RIT, starter Sarah Collmus (Falmouth, ME/Falmouth) suffered the loss, allowing 10 runs on 10 hits over 4.0 innings pitched.

RIT got things going in game two, sending two runs across for a 2-0 advantage after the first.  The Engineers answered in the bottom of the frame as Rudisill hit her second homerun of the season, followed by a single from Heller and the seventh long ball of the season from McCarthy – a two-run shot.
 
Rensselaer continued to add to its 3-2 advantage later in the frame as sophomore Dani Grage (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon) posted a two-run single to make it a 5-2 game after an inning complete.
 
In the second, RPI held a 8-2 advantage after two-run single by Osmanski and Grage came up big again, bringing another run in off a single.  RPI added its 10th run on an error by the Tigers.
 
The Engineers continued to tack on the offense and grabbed a 14-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth as Rudisill launched her second of the game – a three-run shot – over the left field wall.  Heller later scored on a throwing error and junior Sheena McNeil (Urbana, IL/Urbana) wrapped up the scoring with an RBI double to centerfield.
 
RPI's pitching staff was outstanding as Osmanski allowed just two runs over two innings, while rookie Kristina Weltzin (Commerce Town, MI/Walled Lake Northern) came on in relief for the final 3.0 innings.  She struck out four batters while allowing no runs or hits to the Tigers.
 
Offensively, Rudisill was 3 for 4 with four runs scored and four runs batted in, while McCarthy finished 3 for 4 in the game with two runs and four RBI.  Heller chipped in as well, going 2 for 4 with three runs scored.
 
For RIT, Collmus suffered the loss, allowing five runs on five hits in the first inning. Freshman Kelly Meegan (Bristol, NJ/Newfound Regional) came on in relief, giving up 11 runs on eight hits over 2.1 innings.
 
Rensselaer is back on the diamond on Wednesday when it hosts Utica in a non-league doubleheader beginning at 3:30pm. RIT is also in action on Wednesday with a twinbill at Geneseo (3pm).  The Liberty League Tournament - which the Engineers will host, will take place on May 4-6.  More details on the tournament will follow as the final teams conclude league play.