TROY, N.Y. - Senior Kristina Weltzin threw a complete game one-hitter to improve to 6-1 on the season and the righthander tied the school record for career wins with 58 as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team defeated Skidmore College, 2-1, in the Liberty League opener for both teams. The Engineers, who won game two, 4-3, are now 11-3 overall (2-0 Liberty League), while the Thoroughbreds move to 7-13 (0-2 Liberty League).

Weltzin (Commerce Town, MI / Walled Lake Northern) had a no-hitter going into the last inning with the Engineers holding a 2-0 lead before allowing a one-out single. Weltzin closed out the game allowing four walks with seven strikeouts in seven innings. She is now tied with Larina Suker '00 for the most wins in school history.

Offensively, RPI scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Its first run came after a Morgan Ten Eyck (Guilderland, NY / Guilderland) double to centerfield led off the fourth inning. She advanced to third on a Stephanie Caudle (Gainesville, FL / Gainesville) and scored on an error by the rightfielder. The Engineers doubled their advantage the next inning when Taylor Ten Eyck (Guilderland, NY / Guilderland), Morgan's twin sister, doubled to right field and Jena Servidone (East Greenbush, NY / Columbia) followed with a two-bagger to left, scoring Ten Eyck.

Skidmore freshman Casey Attonito (Concord, MA / Concord-Carlisle) got the only hit for the Thoroughbreds in the seventh inning. She was pinch run for by junior May-Lin McEvoy (West Chester, PA / The Agnes Irwin School), who eventually scored on a sacrifice fly to rightfield by junior Dani DeGregory (Greenwich, NY / Greenwich). 

Cassie Fishkin (New City, NY / Clarkstown South), a junior, took the loss for Skidmore, allowing eight hits and a walk with two strikeouts.

Taylor Ten Eyck, a catcher, had two hits with a run and Servidone, who plays third base, had two hits with an RBI. Caudle finished 2 for 2. 

In game two, Caudle went all 7.0 innings in the circle, allowing three runs on four hits. She struck out four and walked three. Skidmore starter, Amanda Carilli took the loss, surrendering four runs (2 earned) on eight hits in 6.0 innings. She struck out one and walked two.

The Engineers built an early 4-0 lead, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second. Caudle provided the big blow, launching a two-run homer to right, which brought Servidone around to score. RPI then add two more in the third, without the benefit of an RBI, scoring on two hits and two Skidmore errors.

Caudle held the Thoroughbreds' bats in check until the top of the sixth, when the visitors struck for three runs on three hits. Fishkin followed a Lauren Fortunato RBI-single with a two-run double to right, but was thrown out at third trying to stretch the hit into a triple.

Skidmore was unable to muster more than a single in the seventh inning and the Engineers held on for the one-run victory.

RPI is back on the diamond on Tuesday, when it hosts Oneonta for a doubleheader (3pm). Skidmore hosts MCLA on Tuesday (3:30pm).