TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore Jessica Kim had six hits out of the leadoff spot to pace the Williams College softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) on Thursday afternoon at Doris Robison Field. With wins of 4-3 and 14-2, the Ephs improve to 16-9 overall, while the Engineers drop to 14-6.

Kim (Tustin, CA/Beckman) went 3 for 4 with a home run and two runs scored in Game 1. Freshman Riley Salvo (Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley) got the scoring started in the top of the first, when she singled home Kim for a 1-0 lead.

RPI junior Chelsea Elliott (Raynham, MA/Bridgewater Raynham Regional) knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the second, when she launched her second home run of the season.

The Ephs took the lead for good in the top of the third, as Kim homered for a 2-1 advantage. An RBI-groundout and a run-scoring single by freshman pitcher Rebecca Duncan (Simi Valley, CA/Royal) made it 4-1 after four innings.

Rensselaer mounted a rally in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two runs on three hits. An opposite field base hit from Elliot plated senior Courtney McArthur (Coventry, RI/St. Mary Academy), before Lilian Kolehmainen (Fresno, CA/Bullard) drove in a run with a single up the middle to pull within 4-3.

Duncan was able to retire the Engineers in order in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the one-run victory. She finished with seven strikeouts and one walk over 7.0 innings, allowing three runs on five hits.

In Game 2, the Ephs jumped out to a big early lead, scoring eight runs in the second and five in the third. Junior Lexi Curt (Moorpark, CA/Moorpark) highlighted the outburst with a grand slam over the fence in left.

RPI pulled two runs back in the bottom of the third, thanks to RBI-groundouts from juniors Victoria Greco (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) and Christine White (Acushnet, MA/Tabor Academy) to make it 13-2.

Junior Brenna Martinez (Arvada, CO/Ralston Valley) capped the scoring with an RBI-double down the line in left in the fifth.

Sophomore Mackenzie Murphy (Diablo, CA/Monte Vista) earned the complete game win, allowing two runs on six hits over 5.0 innings. RPI junior Sarah Harms (Wilsonville, OR/Wilsonville) worked the final 3.1 innings in relief, allowing seven runs (6 earned) on 11 hits. She struck out four and walked two.

Junior Rebecca Kienz (Newburgh, NY/Valley Central) went 2 for 2 with a run for Rensselaer, while Greco was 2 for 2 with an RBI.

The Engineers return to the diamond on Saturday, when they host Skidmore College (1pm). Williams visits MCLA for two on Saturday (1pm).