Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 RPI Merchandise

TROY, N.Y. - The Rensselaer softball team saw five student-athletes connect for multiple hits and sophomore Kristina Weltzin allowed just five hits with six strikeouts to lead the Engineers to a 10-2, six inning win over St. Lawrence in the Liberty League opener for both teams. In the second game, the Saints salvaged a split behind a complete game, 2-0 shutout from senior Elizabeth McGinley.

Rensselaer is now 12-6 overall and 1-1 in the Liberty League. St. Lawrence moves it record to 8-8 and 1-1.

RPI jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning of game one on run-scoring doubles by Aimee Konet (Houston, TX / Friendswood) and Dani Grage (Pittsford, NY / Pittsford Mendon). St. Lawrence tied the game with a pair of third inning runs on a two-RBI single to right centerfield by Leslie Stratton (Bedford, NH / Bishop Brady/Waterville Valley Academy). The Engineers answered right back with two runs in the bottom of the inning on a home run to left centerfield by shortstop Tori Hunt (Cheshire, MA / Hoosac Valley) and a single by Grage.

After being held off the scoreboard in the fourth inning, Rensselaer scored five runs on three hits in the fifth inning for a 9-2 lead. Grage knocked in a run and scored another, while freshman Taylor Ten Eyck (Guilderland, NY / Guilderland) plated two runs with a single to centerfield. The game ended the next inning when senior Caitlin McGivern (Bethlehem, PA / Notre Dame) singled in Nicole Batan (Canton, CT / Canton). 

Weltzin (Commerce Town, MI / Walled Lake Northern) improved to 8-3 with the complete game effort. Senior Kyle Plimpton (Buffalo, NY / Williamsville South) went the distance for the Saints. She allowed six earned runs on 13 hits with nine strikeouts. Offensively for St. Lawrence, five players had one hit apiece.

McGinley (Canastota, NY / Canastota) was outstanding in the second game, allowing just six hits with no walks and six strikeouts to improve to 5-3. The senior allowed five singles and a double.

At the plate, St. Lawrence's first three hitters combined for five of the team's eight hits. They also scored both runs and had an RBI. Stratton, the leadoff hitter, had a hit and scored an insurance run in the seventh inning. The number two hitter, Natasha Bell (Canton, NY / Hugh C. Williams), was 2 for 4, while Chelsea Cavellier (Dexter, NY / General Brown) was 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI. She scored the game's first run in the fourth inning.

Freshman Victoria Hepworth (Chester, MA / Holyoke) took the loss for the Engineers, who got one hit from six different players. Hepworth allowed an earned run on four hits in 3.1 innings.

Rensselaer returns to action on Sunday morning when it hosts league foe Skidmore College at 11am. St. Lawrence travels to Union College for a twinbill beginning at 1pm.