TROY, N.Y. – Two-out hitting was the difference for RPI, as the Skidmore College softball team dropped the first game of the Liberty League Tournament, 5-3 at Doris Robinson Field Thursday afternoon. With the win, the Engineers improve to 24-12 and take on Clarkson tomorrow at 10am, while the Throughbreds fall to 19-22 overall and will play in an elimination game on Friday (12:30pm) against RIT.
 
Skidmore tallied three hits in the effort, due to a solid performance by RPI pitcher Stephanie Caudle (13-4). She picked up the victory in the complete game effort, allowing the two runs and striking out nine batters. Her counterpart, Amanda Carilli (13-13), allowed four runs and 11 hits, striking out a batter.
 
Karly Fishkin, Emily Popp, and Jill Strileckis tallied the hits for the Thoroughbreds. Lizette Roman-Johnston drew a pair of walks.
 
Rebecca Kienz went 3-for-3 for the Engineers. Devan Puhl and Lillian Kolehmainen each drove in a run on a pair of hits.
 
Skidmore jumped on the board first, thanks to a good eye at the plate. Roman-Johnston and Lauren Fortunato drew a pair of walks, then Popp got the runners in on a two-RBI bloop single to right field.
 
The Skidmore defense got themselves out of early trouble in the bottom of the frame. Rensselaer loaded the bases with no outs to begin the frame, but the defense recorded a pair of outs at home plate, before Heather Mak recorded the final out at third to end the threat.
 
Rensselaer eventually broke through in the bottom of second. A pair of singles into left field set the table for Puhl, who hit an RBI-single to get the Engineers on the board. With Chelsea Elliott at bat, Victoria Greco was able to score from third on the double steal, tying the game at two. Elliot then drove a two-out, RBI single to take the 3-2 lead.
 
Skidmore had an opportunity to retake the lead in the top of the fifth. An RPI error got Skidmore a baserunner, which was followed by a base hit by Fishkin. Caudle pitched out of the jam, striking out Foley to end the threat.
 
The Engineers tacked a pair of runs to increase their lead in the bottom of the fifth. A two-out single down the right field line by freshman Cam Caswell was followed by an RBI-double by Kolehmainen. Madison Provencher brought Kolehmainen home to give RPI the 5-2 lead.
 
Skidmore got a runner on to begin the top of the seventh, but a 7-3 double play ended the threat, and the game.