LEESBURG, Fla. - Senior Sarah Harms gave up a mere three hits to lead Rensselaer to a 4-1 win against the Catholic University of America in their first game of the day.

Harms (2-1) totaled three strikeouts in her second win of the year while sophomore Allie Hunt led the Engineers at the plate with the game-winning, two RBI single.

The Cardinals Makayla Czan started the bottom of the first with a leadoff homer over the left field fence to put Catholic (5-6) up 1-0.

After a hitless second inning by both sides, RPI (2-2) center fielder Rebecca Kienz made a diving catch in the bottom of the third to hold the Cardinals to one hit.

Veronica DeStefano became the first baserunner for Rensselaer on a Catholic error. With no outs on the board, the sophomore advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Cam Caswell followed by a wild pitch. Christine White then hit the ball straight to Cardinal second baseman Hailey Horton who tried to make the play at home on the squeeze, but DeStefano was called safe to tie the game 1-1.

With the game tied for the first time since the top of the first, Rebecca Marks led off the bottom of the fourth with a single to left field. Catholic immediately went to advance the left fielder on a sacrifice bunt, but Hunt anticipated the play and rushed towards home to gather the short bunt and catch the lead runner at second. The Engineers followed up Hunt's heads up play with a pop-up, walk and groundout to keep the tie in tact.

RPI continued to make defensive plays all over the diamond when Caswell made an over the shoulder, diving catch at the edge of the infield behind second base for the red and white's second out of the fifth inning.

The Cardinals responded with solid defensive efforts in the bottom of the fifth when shortstop Giselle Diaz jumped in the air to snag a bouncing Kienz slap bunt high out of the air. Diaz then threw out Kienz at first to an outstretched Juliet Lodes to keep the score tied 1-1.

With runners at second and third with one out on the board, Hunt gave RPI its first lead of the day on a two RBI single up the middle in the top of the sixth. After a fielder's choice put runners on the corners with two outs, Maddie Provencher made the score 4-1 on a pass ball.

Harms was able to hold Catholic to one hit over the next two innings to hold on to the win.

Sabrina Scott (1-2) picked up the loss for the Cardinals with five strikeouts on the day.

Rensselaer went on to lose game two to Wartburg (7-5) 9-1 in five innings. The Knight's Sara Martin had a game-high three RBI's with a two-run homer. Wartburg's Mara Forsyth and Madison Stoaks each added solo home run each. Forsyth also scored a game-high three runs. Caswell led RPI at the plate with two hits with DeStefano, Hunt and Provencher adding a hit each. On the defensive end, White, the Engineer catcher, was 2-for-3 on runners caught stealing. 

With the Knights up 9-0 in the bottom of the fifth, Caswell singled to right field to drive in DeStefano to give RPI its lone run of the game.

Warburg's Lauren Reicks (3-0) was credited with the win while only giving up three hits. Rensselaer's Jaime Cleasby (0-1) picked up the loss with a game-high four strikeouts.

The Engineers are back in action tomorrow against Westfield State and Framingham State at 4:30pm & 7pm, respectively, at the Minneola Athletic Complex.