Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

TROY, N.Y. - Powered by a six-run effort in the fourth inning, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team defeated Utica College, 6-0 in game one of a non-league doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon.  The visitors came back to take the nightcap by a 7-6 margin.  RPI moves to 24-12, while the Pioneers are now 20-15.

With a runner on in the bottom of the fourth of game one, senior Sara Heller (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) singled to right center to bring in the Engineers first run.  RPI was able to load the bases soon after and capitalized as junior Aimee Konet (Houston, TX/Friendswood) singled up the middle, advancing two across for a 3-0 advantage.

Sophomore Jen Shields (North Reading, MA/North Reading) then banged in a triple to bring two more in and later scored on a throwing error for the six-run margin.

In the circle, rookie Kristina Weltzin (Commerce Town, MI/Walled Lake Northern) allowed just five hits over 7.0 innings of work to move to 17-7 on the season.  She struck out 10 and surrendered no walks.  With the win, Weltzin also tied the program's single-season record for victories (17) and appearances (30). Heller went 2 for 4 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI.

For Utica, senior Heather Kingsbury (Williamson, NY/Williamson) suffered the loss, allowing six runs on nine hits over 6.0 innings.  She struck out four batters, while walking just one.

Game two saw the visiting Pioneers strike first with sophomore Kristie Jones (Brewerton, NY/Paul V. Moore) leading the charge on a two-run single to center in the top of the second inning.  The Engineers responded in their half of the frame as sophomore Tori Hunt (Chesire, MA/Hoosac Valley) doubled to right and junior Caitlin McGivern (Bethlehem, PA/Notre Dame) drove her in on a single to center.  Konet, who had a key single in game one, tacked on another hit to make it a 2-2 game, and later scored on an error to grab a 3-2 lead.

Utica was able to tie it up in the top of the third and added two more in the opening of the fifth as Jones once again brought a runner across on a single up the middle. RPI fought back in the bottom of the stanza as junior captain Gillian McCarthy (Worthington, OH/Thomas Worthington) singled, but the Pioneers added a run in the sixth and rookie Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) doubled in a run in the seventh to make it a 7-4 lead.

Rensselaer fought back in the bottom of the seventh as Heller and McCarthy hit back-to-back home runs over the left centerfield wall, but could not battle back.

Offensively for the Pioneers, junior Mallory Ingalls (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) had a solid effort at the plate, going 4 for 4 with three runs scored.  In the circle, senior Haley Butler (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) earned the win, allowing just three runs on five hits over 4.2 innings of relief.

For the Engineers, senior Samantha Paulding (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) shouldered the loss.  She surrendered seven runs on 14 hits, while striking out five and walking three.

The Engineers return to action on Sunday when it hosts Oswego State for a pair of games beginning at 11am.  It also marks Senior Day for RPI's three graduating seniors.  Utica hosts Elmira on Thursday, beginning at 4pm.