ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Playing in its second straight elimination game, Union College edged Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 2-1, to stay alive at the 2015 Liberty League Softball Tournament on Friday afternoon at Southside Field.
The Dutchwomen (15-19) took the field just an hour after winning 2-0 over Skidmore in the first elimination game of the day. RPI (20-15) dropped both its games on Friday, falling to Rochester 6-0 in the winners bracket game before losing in the nightcap to Union.
Allyson Staats was again the hero in the circle for Union, tossing her third straight complete game in the tournament, allowing just six hits, one run while walking none and striking out five.
Union got on the board first, pushing an unearned run across on a Linsay Cohen double down the left field line.
After RPI starter
Kristina Weltzin escaped a two on, one out jam in the top of the fourth and the Engineers evened the score in the bottom of the inning, behind a solo blast to right by
Stephanie Caudle. Senior
Danielle Balestrini had one hit for the Engineers and was named to the All-Tournament Team for her efforts in Rensselaer's three games.
In the 5th, Union loaded the bases with one out, chasing Weltzin from the circle. Caudle, who came on in relief, escaped with no harm as Joanna Chalifoux lined into an inning-ending double play.
The Dutchwomen then grabbed the lead in the 6th. After Staats led off with a double and was pinch ran for, Camile Corbin reached on an infield single to put runners on the corners. The next hitter, Molly O'Brien, hit a swinging bunt that, put Union up 2-1.
Corbin made the play of the game in the bottom of the inning, throwing out the potential game tying run in the bottom of the 6th inning trying to tag up on a fly ball to center, preserving Union's 2-1 lead.
Staats then sat down the Engineers 1-2-3 in the 7th to seal the victory, her 15th of the season. Weltzin went 4.0 innings, allowed three hits and one unearned run and one walk. Caudle finished up with the final 3.0 innings, allowed three hits, one run with two strikeouts.
At the plate, Corbin was the only Union player with multiple hits, going 2 for 3. Caudle was 2 for 3 with a home run for RPI, while
Morgan Kollmeier added a 2 3 game.
The victorious Union squad now moves on to Sunday's championship round against 2-0 and top-seeded Rochester.
