ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Sophomore Devan Puhl went 2 for 4, but the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team was defeated by the University of Rochester, 5-1, in an elimination game of the Liberty League Tournament, on Friday afternoon. With the win, the Yellowjackets improve to 24-21 overall, while the Engineers conclude their season at 28-11.

RPI got on the board first, when junior Courtney McArthur (Coventry, RI/St. Mary Academy) brought home classmate Morgan Kollmeier (Kennett Square, PA/Kennett) with a sacrifice fly to right.

The Yellowjackets answered with a three-run bottom of the second to take a 3-1 lead. Senior Lauren Muni (Clarence, NY/Clarence) drove in the first run with a single to left, before an error gave the hosts the lead. Harleigh Kaczegowicz (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) capped the rally with an RBI-double to right center.

A solo home run by freshman Rachel Pletz (Gibsonia, PA/Hampton) made it a 4-1 game in the third.

Rochester added an insurance run in the fifth, when freshman Gianna Melillo (Glenmoore, PA/Downingtown West) singled to bring home Elizabeth Bourne (Orchard Park, NY/Nichols School).

Bourne (5-1) went 7.0 innings for the win, allowing a run on six hits. She struck out two. RPI senior Victoria Hepworth (Chester, MA/Holyoke) surrendered four runs (2 earned) on six hits in 4.0 innings. She struck out one and walked one.

The Yellowjackets are back in action tomorrow at Noon, when they face Skidmore College in the Championship Round of the tournament, needing to beat the Thoroughbreds twice to win the title.