LEESBURG, Fla. – Senior Maddie Provencher went 4 for 6 and classmate Jaime Cleasby threw a 5.0-inning complete game to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team to wins over Penn State Altoona (10-1) and Penn State Brandywine (9-1). The Engineers are now 8-0 on the season - matching 2004 for the best start in program history. 

Against Altoona, the Engineers jumped out a 4-0 lead after just one inning. Senior Allie Hunt plated the game's first run with a single that scored classmate Veronica DeStefano. Sophomore Ryleigh Greenwald then drove home Hunt, before junior Kyla Anderson capped the rally with a two-run single.

RPI added two runs in the third on an RBI-groundout from Provencher and a sacrifice fly from freshman Chloe Lewandowski.

After the Nittany Lions got on the board in the fourth, the Engineers put the game away with back-to-back two-run frames. Provencher hit a solo home run in the fifth, before knocking in the game's final run with an RBI-single in the sixth.

Junior Taylor Spargo (1-0) earned the victory in relief, allowing one run on two hits over 4.0 innings. She struck out two and walked two.

In game two on the day, a pitchers' duel commenced between Cleasby and Penn State Brandwine righthander Alexandra Szpindor.

RPI scored a single run in the bottom of the first without the benefit of a hit. DeStefano walked to lead off the frame, before stealing second and third and coming home on a sac fly from Hunt.

The Engineers held their 1-0 lead until the top of the fourth, when Payton Landis homered off the top of the fence in right, tying the game at 1-1.

A sacrifice fly from Greenwald and a double-steal gave the Engineers the lead right back at 3-1 in the bottom half of the inning.

RPI then ended the contest prematurely in the bottom of the fifth, scoring six runs on five hits and an error. DeStefano opened the frame with a double, before sophomore Jessica Torch and Hunt plated runs with singles. Provencher once again ended the contest with a two-run double to left center.

Cleasby (2-0) surrendered just one run on two hits with six strikeouts and no walks. Szpindor (1-3) gave up seven runs (5 earned) on six hits over 4.2 innings. She struck out three and walked three.

The Engineers are back on the diamond tomorrow, when they face Marian University (10:30am) and Penn State Brandywine (3pm).