CLERMONT, Fla. – Freshman
Cam Caswell drove in four runs to help the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team to wins of 8-0 and 3-2 over Sage College and SUNY Geneseo, respectively, on Saturday afternoon at Hancock Park. With the wins, the Engineers improve to 4-0 on the season.
In game one against the Gators, junior righthander
Sarah Harms threw a 6.0-inning complete game shutout, collecting four strikeouts and no walks.
Rensselaer scored two runs in the top of the first on a two-run single by Caswell, which scored seniors
Stephanie Caudle and
Morgan Kollmeier.
A fourth-inning wild pitch allowed
Allie Hunt to come across from third for a 3-0 lead.
The Engineers then broke the game open in the top of the sixth, plating five runs. Sophomore
Devan Puhl highlighted the outburst with a two-run single to left.
In game two against the Knights, RPI answered a two-run top of the fifth, with two runs of their own in the bottom half for a 3-2 win.
Caswell drove in the game's first run in the bottom of the first, roping a double down the left field line to score Kollmeier from second.
Following three scoreless innings, Geneseo broke on top, 2-1, thanks to the first home run of the season by junior Claire VanNewkirk, just inside the right foul pole.
Rensselaer had the answer, however, as Caswell tied the game with a sacrifice fly (2-2), before Caudle drilled a go-ahead single up middle, giving the Engineers the lead for good.
Caudle held the Knights to just one hit over the final two innings to earn the complete game win. She allowed two runs on eight hits in 7.0 innings, striking out eight and walking one.
Geneseo starter Alexis Kidder also threw a complete game, giving up three runs on five hits in 6.0 innings. She had five strikeouts and three walks.
RPI returns to the diamond tomorrow afternoon, when it takes on Fredonia (3:30pm) and Salve Regina (6pm).