TROY, N.Y. - Senior Kristina Weltzin went all eight innings to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team to a doubleheader split with Plattsburgh State, this afternoon at Doris Robison Field. The Engineers, which won game one, 2-1, move to 9-3 overall, while the Cardinals, who came back to win game two, 3-2, are now 6-10. Both contests went eight innings.

In game one, Weltzin (Commerce Town, MI/Walled Lake Northern) allowed just one run on two hits in 8.0 innings, striking out eigtht and walking one. The victory, which moves her to 5-1 on the season, was the 57th of her collegiate career. She is now one shy of the school record, which is held by Larina Suker '00. Plattsburgh freshman Taylor Smith (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville) took the loss, surrendering one unearned run on two hits in 2.1 innings.

RPI broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth, when senior third baseman Jena Servidone (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia) laced a double to left center, bringing junior Taylor Ten Eyck (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) around to score. The Cardinals were quick to answer, however, as sophomore Hope Van Brocklin (Dexter, NY/General Brown) singled home the tying run in the top of the seventh.

The game went to extra-innings and the international tiebreaker rule was put into place, putting a runner at second to start each half inning. Plattsburgh looked to be in business in the top of the eighth, after a wild pitch immediately put the go-ahead run at third, but a shallow fly ball to center by freshman Dominique Zummo (Commack, NY/St. Anthony's) turned in a double-play, when RPI senior centerfielder Kathleen Baker (Airmont, NY/Suffern) threw home after making the catch at the edge of the infield dirt.

Rensselaer then capitalized in the bottom half, after junior Danielle Balestrini (Lake Placid, NY/Lake Placid) was placed on second. A sacrifice bunt by sophomore Morgan Kollmeier (Kennett Square, PA/Kennett Square) moved Balestrini to third, before Taylor Ten Eyck ripped a single up the middle for the walk-off win.

Game two saw Plattsburgh State strike first in the top of the third inning. Sophomore Nicole Chiarello (New Woodstock, NY/Cazenovia) reached on an error and moved to second on a sac bunt off the bat of Zummo. Senior Brittany Marshall (Malone, NY/Franklin Academy) then dropped a hit in front of RPI left fielder Jocilyn Rudisll (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) for a 1-0 lead.

Taylor Ten Eyck put the Engineers ahead, 2-1, in the bottom of the fourth, drilling her second home run of the season over the fence in left. The two-run shot followed a lead-off single by Kollmeier.

The Cardinals rallied to tie the game in the top of the seventh after one was away. Chiarello and Zummo reached on back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second. Marshall then lined a hit to center, bringing Chiarello home, but Zummo was thrown out trying to advance to third. Marshall then stole second, but was caught trying to swipe third to end the inning. 

Plattsburgh took its second lead of the game in the top of the eighth, bunting the international tiebreaker runner to third to open the stanza. Freshman Jackie Decker (Adams, NY/Colonie Center) followed with a long double to center to give the visitors a 3-2 advantage.

In the bottom of the inning, RPI also used the sacrifice to put a runner on third with one away, but a pop up and a flyout ended the game.

Smith (1-2) earned the win in relief, allowing just two hits over 4.2 innings. She struck out one and walked one. Sophomore Stephanie Caudle (Gainsville, FL/Gainsville) was saddled with the loss, giving up three runs (1 earned) on nine hits in 8.0 innings. She had seven strikeouts.

The Engineers are back in action on Saturday, when they open Liberty League play with a doubleheader against Skidmore College (1pm). Plattsburgh hosts Buffalo State for two on Friday (3pm).