Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CLERMONT, Fla. – Senior captain Tori Hunt went 2 for 4 with a pair of runs batted in to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team to a, 7-6, eight-inning victory over the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, this morning. The Engineers, who then fell to Wittenberg College, 6-3, in the nightcap, conclude their Florida trip with a 6-6 record. The Bears fell to 4-3, while the Tigers are now 7-1.

In game one on the day, Rensselaer broke open a scoreless tie in the bottom of the six plating six runs on five hits and two Coast Guard errors. Hunt (Cheshire, MA/Hoosac Valley) followed a bases loaded walk to freshman Morgan Kollmeier (Kennett Square, PA/Kennett) with a two-run double to the gap in right, to make it 6-0.

The Bears answered with a six-run top of the seventh, thanks to run-scoring hits from sophomores Hannah Ingerson (Kirkwood, PA) and Morgan Kingston (Satellite Beach, FL), which pulled the visitors to within 6-3.

Later in the inning, freshman Erin Reynolds (Valrico, FL) tied the game with a single down the right field line.

RPI was unable to bring home the tying run in the bottom of the seventh, sending the game to extra innings.

After a 1-2-3 top of the eighth, the Engineers wasted no time bringing home the winning run as a sacrifice bunt attempt by sophomore Danielle Balestrini (Lake Placid, NY/Lake Placid) was thrown wide of first allowing placed runner Kristina Weltzin (Commerce Town, MI/Walled Lake Northern) to score all the way from second.

Weltzin, who pitched all 8.0 innings for the Engineers, allowed six runs on eight hits, striking out five, while walking four. Coast Guard starter, Kristine Kahl (Monmouth, ME) took a no-decision giving up five runs (1 earned) on six hits in 5.2 innings.

In game two, Wittenberg started quickly scoring a run in the top of the first and two more in the top of the second. Shelby Knapp (Springfield, OH/Springfield) drove home both Tigers runs in the second with a double down the left field line.

RPI got one back in the bottom of the second on a sac fly off the bat of freshman Courtney McArthur (Coventry, RI/St. Mary Academy), before pulling even at 3-3 in the fifth. Junior Jocilyn Rudisill (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) roll a ball to third that went through the third baseman, allowing two runs to score.

Following a scoreless sixth, Wittenberg scored three runs in the top of the seventh, as senior Rachel Ross (Westerville, OH/South) and sophomore Kaela Hughes (Columbus, OH/Watterson) came through with run-scoring base hits to left.

The Engineers are back in action next Saturday, when they host Ithaca College at Doris Robison Field for a doubleheader (1pm).