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ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Shortly after being held to three hits in a shutout loss, the University of Rochester produced 11 hits and 10 runs to split a Liberty League softball doubleheader with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).
 
Rochester lost the opener, 6-0, at Southside Field. The Yellowjackets regrouped and earned a 10-1 win in game two in five innings. The split gives Rochester an overall record of 15-11 (1-5 Liberty League). RPI is 18-8 overall and 5-1 in the Liberty League. On Sunday, Rochester hosts Union College while RPI heads to RIT.
 
Game One:
In the opener, RPI's Stephanie Caudle twirled a three-hitter accompanied by 10 strikeouts. She walked three. Caudle was tough when she had to be. With two down in the first inning, Courtney Semkewyc reached on a passed ball after strike three. Rachael Pletz and Lydia Petricca singled to load the bases, but Caudle induced Jocelynn Blackshear to pop out to short.
 
In the third, with RPI ahead 3-0, Harleigh Kaczegowicz doubled to left. Eleni Wechsler popped out, but Semkewyc drew a walk. Caudle retired Rachael Pletz on a popup and fanned Lydia Petricca. That started a streak of 10 straight retired. In the seventh, she closed with three straight strikeouts of pinch-hitters.
 
The Engineers scored three runs in the third – one unearned. With one out, Wechsler ran into trouble. She hit Cam Caswell and Caudle singled. Chelsea Elliott singled to left, scoring Caswell. Caudle moved to second and advanced to third when the throw home was off line. Elliott took second. Lillian Kolehmainen singled to score Caudle and when the ball was fumbled in the outfield, Elliott scored to make it 3-0.
 
Three more runs – all unearned – scored in the fifth. Maddie Provencher hit a bases-clearing double to right center after an error, a force play at second, a double, a groundout, and a hit batsman.
 
Wechsler pitched five innings, allowing eight hits, six runs (2 earned), three walks and two strikeouts.
 
Game Two:
RPI nicked Rochester Sam Malecki for an unearned run in the top of the first. Caudle singled home Victoria Greco, who reached on an error to begin the game.
 
Rochester strung together hits and runs from the second through the fourth innings. In the second, Pletz was hit by a pitch. After a bunt failed, Jessica Conforti singled. Michela Farmer singled to right. The fielder charged and threw home wildly. The Pletz run tied the score. Conforti scored on the throwing error and Farmer moved to second. Corning's bouncing single put two on. Kaczegowicz doubled to deep center for two RBIs and a 4-1 lead.
 
In the third, Sarah Harms relieved Jamie Cleasby. Petricca homered to left. Pletz was hit by a pitch and she moved all the way to third on Blackshear's perfectly placed bunt on the third base line. Conrforti's second hit of the game was an RBI single and she scored on Corning's double to the base of the right field wall.

Harms gave up a single and two walks to begin the fourth and Cleasby returned. Petricca singled in two runs, Pletz' flyball to center – with Rachael Herne (running for Semkewyc) on third – was dropped, scoring the 10th Rochester run.
 
Malecki earned the victory, allowing six hits. She had two runners aboard in each inning, yet stranded seven. She walked two to gain her fifth win of the season. Cleasby took the loss.