ITHACA, N.Y. - Junior Jaime Cleasby threw a complete game in the circle and classmate Veronica DeStefano had a hand in three of four runs to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team to a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over the University of Rochester, in Liberty League Tournament play on Thursday. With the win, the Engineers improve to 28-9 overall and advance to the winners bracket, while the Yellowjackets fall to 19-17 and face Clarkson this evening in the first elimination game.

Trailing 2-1 in the top of the seventh, RPI scored three times to take a 4-2 lead. An error and a single from Kyla Anderson put two aboard with nobody out. After a strikeout, DeStefano ripped an opposite field single to right, which drove home pinch runner Ryleigh Greenwald to tie the game at 2-2. Greenwald had to avoid the tag at the plate from Harleigh Kaczegowicz as the throw from Sammi Re was on the mark. Both DeStefano and the lead runner, Anderson, advanced on the play, setting up freshman pinch hitter Kate Anderson, who lifted a 3-2 pitch to center for a sacrifice fly. Junior Allie Hunt the capped the rally with a bloop single to center, scoring DeStefano from second.

Ithaca was able to get a runner aboard with with one out in the bottom half, when Jen Carlson doubled to center, but Cleasby was able to induce a pair of fly balls, including a game-ending foul out to DeStefano in right, clinching the two-run victory.

The Bombers picked up their two runs in the bottom of the second, when Gianna Melillo launched a two-run homer to straight away center. DeStefano drew the Engineers to within 2-1 in the top of the fifth, lacing a single through the right side that scored classmate Cam Caswell.

Cleasby (9-3) recorded her fifth consecutive complete game, allowing the two runs on five hits over 7.0 innings. She struck out three without a walk. Elizabeth Bourne (8-8) also went the distance for the Yellowjackets, giving up four unearned runs on eight hits in 7.0 innings. She had three strikeouts and did not walk a batter. 

Offensively, DeStefano was 2 for 4 with a run and two runs batted in, while Hunt was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Freshman Jessica Torch finished 2 for 3 with a stolen base - her 36th of the season. DeStefano now has 58 hits, which is good for second in school history. She trails Julianne Bass '09, who had 62 in 2006.

Rochester was paced by Melillo, who was 1 for 3 with a home run and two RBI. Kaczegowicz went 1 for 3 with a run, while Jessica Conforti and Marissa Russo were each 1 for 2.

The Engineers are back in action tomorrow morning, when they face the host Bombers at 10am.