Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ROCHESTER, N.Y.   – Sophomores Sarah Wayson of Rochester and Kristina Weltzin of RPI pitched complete game victories for their teams as the Yellowjackets and Engineers split a softball doubleheader at Southside Field on Sunday afternoon.

RPI won the opener, 6-5, rallying from a 5-1 deficit in the last three innings. Rochester won the nitecap, 5-4. The Yellowjackets won the Liberty League's regular season title and the right to host the league's post-season tournament on May 3-5. Rochester is 14-17 overall, 8-2 in the Liberty League. RPI is 20-9 overall, 7-3 in the Liberty League.

Weltzin pitched both games of the twinbill for the Engineers. In game one, she scattered seven hits, allowed five runs (all earned), walked five, and struck out six. Brittany Grage (Pittsford Mendon) took the loss for Rochester. She pitched seven innings, allowed 10 hits, six runs (two earned) with no walks and four strikeouts.

In game two, Wayson allowed nine hits, four runs (two earned), walked three and struck out six. Weltzin pitched six innings, scattering eight hits. She allowed five runs (four earned), walked four, and struck out four.

Nina Korn (Greece Athena) had three hits and four RBIs for Rochester. She hit a pair of two-run home runs, one in the first inning of each game. Gena Bradford Tume was 2-3 with one run scored and two RBIs for Rochester in game one. She hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning that gave the Yellowjackets a 5-1 lead. Wayson helped her own cause in the nitecap, lining a two-run bases-loaded single in the fourth that pushed Rochester back in front, 5-4.

Tori Hunt had three hits and three RBIs in game one for RPI.  She singled home runs in the third and fifth, keeping RPI within 5-2. Her RBI single in the sixth capped a four-run rally that put the Engineers ahead for the first time – and a lead they did not surrender.

Rochester committed three errors in the sixth inning of the opener. Caitlin McGivern hit a one-out single and pinch-hitter Charlene Osmanski doubled her to third. Weltzin replaced Osmanski. Taylor Ten Eyck singled to right, scoring McGivern and putting Weltzin on third. Danielle Balestrini ran for Ten Eyck and promptly stole second. Jena Servidone pinch-hit for Morgan Ten Eyck. She hit a grounder to second and the throw home was bobbled. Weltzin scored with Balestrini taking third. When the ball got away, Balestrini ran home and Servidone reached second base. She advanced to third on Jocilyn Rudisill's single. After a groundout, Hunt singled through the left side scoring Servidone for a 6-5 RPI lead.

The Yellowjackets threatened in their half of the seventh. Meg Hennessy singled and was bunted to second. With Nina Korn at bat, an illegal pitch was charged to Weltzin. That moved Hennessy to third. Korn was intentionally walked. She stole second. Brittany Grage bounced to third and Hennessy was out in a 5-2-6 rundown. Tayler Fravel popped out to end it.

In game two, Rochester took a quick 3-0 lead in the first. Wayson singled to right and Korn homered to right center, her 10th of the season and a career high. Grage singled. After a popout and walk, Lauren Muni singled up the middle, scoring Grage.

RPI got one back in the second on Gillian McCarthy's home run to dead center. The Engineers pushed three runs across in the fourth for a 4-3 lead.

Osmanski singled and left for pinch runner Kathleen Baker. She stole second and was bunted to third. Taylor Ten Eyck singled down the left field line, scoring Baker (3-2). Weltzin singled to right and Rudisill walked to load the bases. Wayson struck out Aimee Konet for the second out. Hunt's infield grounder was booted, allowing two runs to score. McCarthy walked. Wayson avoided further damage by retiring Dani Grage (Pittsford Mendon) on an infield grounder.

The Yellowjackets scored two in their half of the fourth to go back in front. With one on and one out, Steph Brunet's bunt was misplayed. Hennessy bunted for a single to load the bases. Wayson lined a 3-2 pitch into centerfield for two RBIs and a 5-4 lead.

RPI nearly had the tying run across in the fifth. With one down, Balestrini singled. Taylor Ten Eyck doubled to right center on the next pitch. Balestrini hesitated around second base, then managed to score. The umpires huddled and ruled that Balestrini left first base early. She was called out. The double was negated and Ten Eyck sent back to the plate. She grounded out on the next pitch to end the inning.

Wayson drew a two-out walk in the Rochester sixth and Korn followed with a long double to right center. Wayson was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

In the RPI seventh, McCarthy singled sharply to right center. Pinchrunner Nicole Batan was thrown out trying to steal second on the first pitch to pinch-hitter Servidone. She flied to left on a full-count pitch. Osmanski worked another full count before Wayson caught the corner for a called strike three that ended the game.