Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – The Yellowjackets broke open the game with a four-run second inning and held on to defeat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 8-0 in five innings in the championship game of the 2012 Liberty League Tournament.  The Engineers conclude their season with a 27-14 record, while the University of Rochester is now 28-13.  Both teams will now wait until Monday at 10am to find out if they have been selected to this year's NCAA Tournament.  Rensselaer was the Liberty League's regular season champion.
 
Rochester opened the scoring in the top of the first inning as back-to-back singles from All-Tournament Team selections Meghan Hennessey (Hamburg, NY/Immaculata Academy) and Katie McLean (Cazenovia, NY/Cazenovia) and a hit-by-pitch on tournament Most Valuable Player, Brittany Grage (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon) set up a bases loaded situation with no outs on the board.
 
Sophomore Nina Korn (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) stepped up to the plate and was walked to bring in the first run of the game.  Following a lineout double play, a walk to rookie Sarah Wayson (Owego, NY/Tioga Central) loaded it once again.  Sophomore Kristen Baldino (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) then singled through the middle to drive in the visitors second run of the contest.
 
The Yellowjackets continued to step it up offensively in the top of the second, breaking open the game with a four-run effort.  Much like the first inning, Rochester got things going with consecutive singles from Hennessey and McLean.  After a rocketed shot to deep left center by Grage brought in both runners, she advanced to third on a wild pitch and came home on a single by senior Natalee Sassaman (Phoenixville, PA/Pottstown) for a 6-0 advantage.
 
Rensselaer tried to get things going in the fourth inning as sophomore Tori Hunt (Cheshire, MA/Hoosac Valley) reached on a fielder's choice with two out, but junior Aimee Konet (Houston, TX/Friendswood) grounded into a fielder's choice of her own on the next at-bat to end the inning.
 
Hennessey capped the scoring in the game, hitting a two-run home run in the top of the fifth to give the visitors the eight-run mercy rule differential.
 
Wayson, who was also an All-Tournament Team selection for the Yellowjackets, pitched outstanding in the game.  She allowed no runs on just three hits over 5.0 innings pitched with four strikeouts.
 
Offensively, Rochester was led by Hennessey, who went 3 for 4 with three runs scored and two RBI in the game.  McLean was 2 for 4 with a run scored, while Grage was 1 for 3 with two runs scored and two runs batted in.
 
For Rensselaer, rookie Kristina Weltzin (Commerce Town, MI/Walled Lake Northern) shouldered the loss, allowing eight runs on 10 hits.
 
In addition to McLean, Hennessey, Grage and Wayson from Rochester, senior catcher Sara Heller (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland), junior first baseman Gillian McCarthy (Worthington, OH/Thomas Worthington) and freshman left fielder Jocilyn Rudisill (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) from Rensselaer were also tabbed.  Additionally, Union pitcher/outfielder Allyson Staats (Downers Grove, IL/Benet Academy) and St. Lawrence's Chelsea Cavellier (Dexter, NY/General Brown) and Aisha O'Connor (Pembroke, ON/Bishop Smith Catholic) were also All-Tournament Team selections.