SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Sophomore Haley Congdon threw a complete game shutout to lead the Ithaca College softball team to a 5-0 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) at Union College's Alexander Field, on Thursday afternoon. With the win, the Bombers improve to 25-9 overall, while the Engineers drop to 20-11.

Congdon (Fairfield, CT/Lauralton Hall) allowed two hits and two walks over 7.0 innings, striking out five. RPI senior Stephanie Caudle (Gainesville, FL/Gainesville) suffered the loss, surrendering five runs (3 earned) on six hits in 4.0 innings.

The Bombers struck for three runs in the top of the first to take an early lead. Sophomore Alex Wright (Yorktown Heights, NY/Lakeland) tripled into the right field corner to bring home a pair. She then crossed the plate on a double to left, off the bat of classmate Hannah Anderson (Caledonia, NY/Caledonia-Mumford).

Ithaca tacked on two more runs in the top of the fourth on a two-out, two-run single by freshman pinch hitter Abby Shields (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa), who lifted a low liner just inside the right field line.

Rensselaer threatened in the bottom of the sixth, when junior Devon Puhl (Frederick, MD/Linganore) singled up the middle with one out. A six-pitch walk to senior Courtney McArthur (Coventry, RI/St. Mary Academy) put two on, but a fielder's choice and a pop-up ended the inning.

Puhl and freshman Veronica DeStefano (Emerson, NJ/Emerson) both finished 1 for 3, while rookie righthander Jaime Cleasby (Windham, NH/Windham) was solid in relief, pitching 3.0 shutout innings to close out the game. She allowed three hits and struck out one.

Wright went 2 for 4 with a triple and two runs batted in, while Anderson was 1 for 2 with a run and an RBI.

The Engineers are back on the diamond on Saturday, when they take on Union College for a doubleheader (1pm). Ithaca visits Manhattanville on Sunday (12pm).