Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore Danielle Balestrini drove in five runs, including the game-winner in the ninth inning of game two, to give the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team a crucial doubleheader sweep of area-rival Union College, this afternoon at Doris Robison Field. With wins of 6-1 and 4-3 (9 inn.), the Engineers improve to 18-14 overall (8-2 Liberty League), while the Dutchwomen drop to 17-11 (7-3 Liberty League).
 
The wins place RPI in a tie with Rochester for first place in the league standings with just two games to play. The Engineers hold a tie-break with the Yellowjackets, who split with Union earlier this season.
 
In game one, junior righthander Kristina Weltzin (Commerce Town, MI/Walled Lake Northern) allowed just one run on six hits in hurling her 11th complete game of the season. She struck out four batters without a walk.
 
Rensselaer opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning on a bunt single back to the pitcher by senior Tori Hunt (Cheshire, MA/Hoosac Valley) that brought home freshman Morgan Kollmeier (Kennett Square, PA/Kennett).
 
A two-run single by Balestrini (Lake Placid, NY/Lake Placid) in the second made it 3-0 to the hosts, as Kollmeier and fellow freshman Stephanie Caudle (Gainsville, FL/Gainsville) came around to score.
 
Union threatened in the fourth, scoring a single run when junior Lindsay Cohen (Suffern, NY/Suffern) was hit by a pitch with bases loaded. Weltzin was able to survive further damage by inducing a groundout off the bat of senior Kristin Schmidt (Suffern, NY/Suffern) to end the inning.
 
The Engineers added three insurance runs in the fifth to take a 6-1 lead. Junior Jena Servidone (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia) ripped an RBI-triple down the line in right, before sophomore Taylor Ten Eyck (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) launched her team-leading fourth home run of the season over the left field fence.
 
In game two, the Dutchwomen plated one run in the first inning, before Junior Camille Corbin (San Diego, CA/Gilmour Academy) hit her eighth homer of season in the second to take a 2-0 lead.
 
Following two scoreless frames, the Engineers battled back to tie the game in the fifth. A single and a double from freshmen Courtney McArthur (Coventry, RI/St. Mary Academy) and Kollmeier put runners on second and third with out. Balestrini then came through with a two-run single up the middle to make it 2-2.
 
The game remained tied until the top of the ninth, when Union broke through against reliever Victoria Hepworth (Chester, MA/Holyoke). Schmidt brought out Corbin with an RBI groundout for the 3-2 lead.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, RPI railed. Caudle led off the inning with a double to right, before being lifted for a pinch runner. Following a fly out, junior Kathleen Baker (Airmont, NY/Suffern) reached on an infield single to put runners on the corners with one away.
 
Baker then stole second in front of a run-scoring single by Kollmeier, which tied the game at 3-3. That set the stage for Balestrini, who dropped down a bunt in front of the circle to bring home Baker from third and win the game.
 
Hepworth (6-6) earned the win in relief, surrendering just a single run on five hits in 7.0 innings. She struck out three and did not allow a walk.
 
The Engineers are back on the diamond tomorrow afternoon, when they close out their league schedule against Clarkson (1pm). Union hosts Skidmore tomorrow (11am).