Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CLERMONT, Fla. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team was unable to overcome a pair of early deficits in dropping two games on its Spring Training trip to Florida, 9-0 and 4-1, to Alvernia University and Monmouth College, respectively. With the defeats, the Engineers drop to 4-4 on the season. The Crusaders are now 4-1, while the Scots are 5-1.

In game one of the day, Alvernia scored multiple runs in each of the first three innings, including a five-run second. Senior Katie Manowski (Grasonville, MD/Kent Island) delivered the biggest blow of the frame, plating two with a triple to left. Classmate Samantha Penk (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown Southern) the drove in a run with a single up the middle, before a wild pitch and a throwing error by the Engineers scored two more.

A two-run single by Penk in the third was all the Crusaders needed, as they held on for the win. Penk finished 2 for 3 with two runs and three runs batted in. Senior Amanda Galanti (Red Bank, NJ/Marine Academy of Science & Technology) went 1 for 2 with two runs, an RBI and a walk.

For Rensselaer, sophomore Morgan Ten Eyck (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) and senior captain Tori Hunt (Cheshire, MA/Hoosac Valley) each had a hit, while freshman righthander Stephanie Caudle (Gainsville, FL/Gainsville) threw the final 2.2 innings, allowing two unearned runs on two hits. She struck out four and walked four.

Game two saw the Scots jump out to a 3-0 lead, following a two-hour rain delay. Sophomore Emily Watkins (Taylor Ridge, IL/Rockridge) reached on an error and made to way to third on a wild pitch and a stolen base. A walk and an infield-single followed, loading the bases for Senior Kelsey Barnes (Canton, IL/Canton), who deposited a bases-clearing double to the gap in left.

The Engineers fought back in the fifth, as freshman Morgan Kollmeier (Kennett, PA/Kennett) plated sophomore Danielle Balestrini (Lake Placid, NY/Lake Placid) from second by slashing a single down the right field line. RPI would go on to load the bases in the frame, but could not capitalize.

Monmouth got the run back in the top of the sixth on hit to the left side of the infield by senior Kaitlyn Winkler (Alexis, IL/United0. She beat the long throw from short to score Watkins from third.

Junior Skyler Johnson (Glasford, IL/Illini Bluffs) improved to 3-0 on the season with the complete game win for the Scots. She surrendered a run on six hits in 7.0 innings, striking out three and walking three. RPI sophomore lefthander Victoria Hepworth (Chester, MA/Holyoke) was tagged with her first loss of the season, allowing four runs (3 earned) on seven hits. She struck out six, walked one and retired nine straight batters and one point in the contest.

The Engineers are back on the diamond tomorrow, when they face Juniata College (9am) and Wheaton (IL) (1pm).