TROY, N.Y. - Junior
Stephanie Caudle and
Courtney McArthur hit the first two home runs of the year to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) on Saturday at Doris Robison Field. With wins of 5-3 and 9-1, the Engineers improve to 16-4 overall (2-0 Liberty League), while the Tigers drop to 6-8 (0-2 Liberty League).
In Game 1, a three-run home run by Caudle broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fifth inning. Junior
Morgan Kollmeier walked to lead off the inning. After a groundout,
Taylor Ten Eyck reached a on fielder's choice to put runners on the corners. Caudle then came up and launched a homer to straight away center, making it a 5-2 game.Â
RIT pulled a single run back in the sixth thanks to an RBI-single off the bat of Tori Blaker.Â
Caudle (7-2) allowed three runs on seven hits in 7.0 innings. She struck out eight and walked two. Tigers starter Lauren Mahar (2-6) gave up five runs on five hits in 5.0 innings, collecting two strikeouts and three walks.Â
Game 2 saw McArthur homer to lead off the bottom of the second inning.
A five-run third ensued for the hosts as they opened a sizable 6-0 lead. Caudle doubled home sophomore
Devan Puhl to get the scoring started in the frame, before
Morgan Ten Eyck brought in two more with a single to center. A wide pitch and a double-steal plated the final two runs of the frame.
RIT was able to find its way onto the board in the top of the sixth, scoring a solid single to center off the bat of Sam Killian. The Engineers answered with a three-run bottom half of the inning, bringing the game to an early end. Kollmeier,
Taylor Ten Eyck and Caudle each had RBI-singles in the inning.
Senior
Victoria Hepworth (4-0) went 5.2 innings, allowing a run on eight hits. She struck out one and walked one. Sierra Valentine (4-2) surrendered six runs on seven hits in 3.0 innings. Mahar came back in the nightcap to give up three runs on seven hits in 2.0 innings.
The Engineers are back in action tomorrow afternoon, when they host Rochester at Doris Robison Field (1pm). RIT visits Union for two tomorrow (1pm).
