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Subscribe on YouTubeTROY, N.Y. -- Williams College swept Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in non-conference softball action on Tuesday afternoon at Robison Field. The Ephs won the first game, 1-0, and the second, 4-0, for the two-game shutout. RPI moves to 14-8 overall, while Williams stands at 17-5.
In game one, Williams scored its only run in the top of the third, as Erica Li (Salt Lake City, UT / Skyline) reached on an error. She then stole second base, and moved to third on a ground out up the middle. With two outs, Mo Frank (Amherst, MA / Amherst Regional) knocked a roller down the first base line, and Li was able to make it across home plate unscathed.
The Ephs got two baserunners in the top of the seventh, as Amanda Siedem (Longmont, CO / Silver Creek) drew a lead-off walk, and Ashley Wirth (Albany, OR / West Albany) was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Li hit an easy ground ball to second, and the Engineers got out of the jam. Williams pitcher Emma Harrington (Columbus, OH / Columbus Academy) got the RPI order down in order to finish up the game.
Kristina Weltzin (Commerce Town, MI / Walled Lake Northern) pitched a complete game for the Engineers, recording three strikeouts, while issuing three walks and allowing three hits, falling to 7-5 on the season. Harrington also went the full game in the circle, allowing two hits, with no strikeouts, and no walks.
To start the second game, Williams' Alison Michalik (Naperville, IL / Benet Academy) hit a lead-off triple into right center, and Frank followed with a walk. Frank advanced to second on a ground out, putting two runners in scoring position for the Ephs. RPI pitcher
Stephanie Caudle (Gainesville, FL / Gainesville) induced a pop up and a ground out to get out of the inning. The Engineers threated in the bottom of the third, as two batters were hit by pitches.
Danielle Balestrini (Lake Placid, NY / Lake Placid) moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt, but
Taylor Ten Eyck (Guilderland, NY / Guilderland) grounded out to end the inning.
Melissa Cendejas (Rosemead, CA / Ramona Convent) got the Ephs on the board in the top of the fourth with a lead-off double to the warning track in left field. Cendejas advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Priscilla Pino (Cerritos, CA / Long Beach Poly), and came home on a long fly ball by Brenna Martinez (Arvada, CO / Ralston Valley) that was caught in foul territory. Williams doubled the score in the top of the sixth. Tayler Donze (Richmond, VA / St. Paul's School) reached on an error and then stole second. Pino doubled down the left field line to score Donze, and then came home on another Rensselaer fielding error. Li, who had singled to move Pino over, crossed home on the sixth RPI error of the game.
The Engineers had a chance to post a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, as
Kacie Herity (Chesterfield, NJ / Northern Regional) singled up the middle. Williams pitcher Brooke Bovier (Port Orange, FL / Spruce Creek) struck out two in the inning, and got a foul out to end the game.
Caudle struck out one opposing batter for the Engineers in a complete game, while allowing eight hits. Bovier fanned seven for the Ephs, allowing just three hits.
Rensselaer will return to aciton on Wednesday, hosting Ithaca for a non-conference doubleheader starting at 2:30 p.m.