SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Junior Maddie Provencher came through with the go-ahead home run to help the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team to a doubleheader split at Skidmore College, on Sunday afternoon Wagner Park. The Engineers, who won Game 1, 6-5 in eight innings, before falling 9-1, are now 20-8 overall (4-4 Liberty League), while the Thoroughbreds move to 15-15 (4-4 Liberty League).

RPI came back from three separate deficits to take the opener in extra innings. Skidmore scored a run on an error in the second inning, before the Engineers rallied for two in the top of the third. Junior Allie Hunt tied the game with an RBI-single to center, before freshman Ryleigh Greenwald plated a second run with a ground ball to second.

Skidmore sophomore Hannah Davis game the hosts the lead right back in the bottom of the third, ripping a two-run homer to center for a 3-2 advantage.

Two innings later, sophomore Kyla Anderson launched her first collegiate home run to give the Engineers a 4-3 lead. Greenwald led off the frame by reaching on an infield single, before moving to second on a sacrifice by Provencher. Anderson then stepped up and drilled the first pitch she saw over the fence in left, driving in the pair.

Senior Karly Fishkin had an answer for the Thoroughbreds in the bottom half, hitting a two-run shot to straight away center, recapturing the lead at 5-4.

The Engineers mounted a rally in the seventh to pull even, beginning with a two singles and a walk to load the bases with nobody out. Junior Veronica DeStefano came delivered a single up the middle to knot the score at 5-5, but three straight popups got out of the inning without another run coming across the plate.

Skidmore had a chance to win the game in the bottom half, putting two runners on with nobody out. RPI freshman righthander Erika Holowka was able to get out of the jam, inducing a pair of fly balls, before Provencher robbed Genesis Delgado of a hit to left, ending the inning.

In the top of the eighth, Provencher ripped a deep home run to left center with two down in the inning. Holowka then set the Thoroughbreds down in order to earn the relief victory.

Skidmore jumped on the Engineers in Game 2, scoring four runs in the second and five in the third. Sophomore Hannah Paoucci started off the rally with a home run, before a bases loaded walk and a two-run double from Fishkin made it 4-0 after two.

The five-run third was highlighted by a pair of home runs by Paolucci and junior Maddie Nelson, who hit a grand slam to make it 9-0.

RPI got on the board in the top of the fourth, when Greenwald doubled down the line in left, scoring junior Cam Caswell.

Junior Emily Popp (5-8) picked up the win in relief, allowing one unearned run over 2.2 innings. She struck out two and walked one. RPI sophomore Taylor Spargo was saddled with the loss, giving up four runs on five hits in 1.0 inning of work.

The Engineers are back in action next Saturday, when they host Ithaca College at Doris Robison Field for a twin bill (1pm). Skidmore hosts Hamilton College for two on Tuesday (3:30pm).