UTICA, N.Y. - Freshman Erin Askins went 5 for 8 with two doubles and classmate Erika Holowka picked up a win and a save to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Utica College, on Wednesday afternoon at Greenman Field. With wins of 10-1 and 9-7, the Engineers improve to 24-8 overall, while the Pioneers drop to 14-18.

RPI got one run in the first, before a pitchers' duel ensued over the next three frames, as both Holowka and Utica's Gabby Caccamo put up zeros through four.

The Engineers finally broke out for six runs in the top of the fifth. Freshman Ryleigh Greenwald plated the first two with a single to center, before Askins doubled home two more. Junior Maddie Provencher brought home the fifth run of the frame, ahead of a sacrfice fly from classmate Cam Caswell.

A three-run top of the seventh put the game out of reach, with junior Steph Cavallaro scoring one on a single to left. Sophomore Kyla Anderson brought home RPI's 10th run with an RBI groundout.

Utica picked up its lone run in the contest with a home run by Kaitlyn Paul.

Holowka (12-3) allowed only one run on four hits over 7.0 innings. She struck out six and did not walk a batter. Caccamo (6-7) gave up six runs (4 earned) on seven hits in 4.1 innings, striking out two without a walk.

The visitors opened up a 2-0 lead in the second inning of Game 2, scoring on a single by Kyla Anderson and a sacrifice fly from junior Veronica DeStefano. Caswell made it 3-0 with a run-scoring single to center in the top of the third.

A Utica single and an RPI error in bottom of the inning made it 3-2, but the Engineers fought back with two in the top of the fifth to create some separation at 5-2. 

After Rensselaer pushed its advantage to 6-2 in the top of the sixth, the hosts drew to within 6-5 in the bottom of the sixth, thanks to RBI-singles from Emily Joss, Sara Stransky and Jaime Miller. 

RPI got the three runs back in the top of the seventh, however, as Kyla Anderson and DeStefano delivered run-scoring base hits, in front of a Greenwald RBI-ground ball.

Sophomore Taylor Spargo (6-2) earned the win for RPI in the circle, surrendering five runs (4 earned) on six hits in 5.2 innings. Holowka collected her third save of the year, working the final 1.2 innings in relief. 

The Engineers are back in action on Saturday, when they visit St. Lawrence University for a Liberty League doubleheader (1pm). Utica travel to Elmira College on Saturday (1pm).