Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – Eleven players recorded at least one hit as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team defeated Juniata College, 17-1, this morning. The Engineers, who were then edged, 6-4, by Wheaton College (Ill.), move to 5-5 on the season. The Eagles dropped to 2-5, while the Thunder are now 6-2.

Juniata scored the first run of the game, taking advantage of an RPI error in the top of the first. The Engineers fought back with a five-run bottom of the inning, which saw four players deliver run-scoring hits. Junior Jocilyn Rudisill (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) got the scoring started with a double the line in right. Taylor Ten Eyck (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland), Dani Grage (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon) Courtney McArthur (xxx) followed to make it 5-1 after one.

After plating two runs in the second, RPI blew the game open in the third, scoring eight times. Rudisill came through a two-run double in the early stages of the rally, while sophomore Danielle Balestrini (Lake Placid, NY/Lake Placid) and freshman Morgan Kollmeier (Kennett, PA/Kennett) drove in runs with a single and a sacrifice fly, respectively.

Freshman Dana Stevens (Freehold, NJ/Colts Neck) and Stephanie Caudle (Gainsville, FL/Gainsville) each notched their first RBI in the fourth to cap the scoring. Junior righthander Kristina Weltzin (Commerce Town, MI/Walled Lake Northern) went 3.0 innings for Rensselaer, allowing an unearned run on two hits, while striking out four. Caudle finished the game off, giving up three hits in 2.0 innings of relief.

Game two saw the Thunder jump out to an early 5-0 lead, as its first five batters reached in the bottom of the first. A two-run single by sophomore Christina Sandstedt (Lake Zurich, IL/Lake Zurich) and a two-RBI triple off the bat of Alyssa Leonard (Highlands Ranch, CO/Mountain Vista) highlighted the frame.

After the two teams traded a run in the third, the score remained 6-2, until the top of the sixth, when RPI rallied for a pair.

Senior Tori Hunt (Cheshire, MA/Hoosac Valley) singled sharply to center to lead off the inning. With one away, Taylor Ten Eyck drove a double to the gap in right, drawing the Engineers to within 6-3. Ten Eyck came around to score on a pair of wild pitches to make it 6-4.

Wheaton freshman righthander Marisa Voss (Elmhurst, IL/Timothy Catholic) came on to pitch a perfect ninth to earn the save. Starter Abby Butler (Springfield, PA/Deleware County Christian) went the first 6.0 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits.

RPI starter Victoria Hepworth (Chester, MA/Holyoke) settled down after a rocky first inning, giving up six runs (5 earned) on eight hits. She struck out three and did not allow a walk in 4.0 innings.

The Engineers conclude their Spring Trip tomorrow morning when they take on the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (9am) and Wittenberg (11am).