TROY, N.Y. – All nine batters recorded at least one hit for the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team in defeating Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), 9-0, in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Saturday at Doris Robison Field. The Engineers, who took Game 2, 6-1, for the doubleheader sweep, improve to 8-4 overall (7-3 Liberty League), while the Tigers drop to 6-27 (2-23 Liberty League).

After two scoreless innings, RPI broke onto the board in the bottom of the sixth, scoring six runs on five hits and an error. Graduate student Veronica DeStefano (Emerson, NJ/Emerson) led off the frame with a double and nabbed third on a double-steal with junior Erin Askins (Tehachapi, CA/Tehachapi), who had  walked. Grad student Steph Cavallaro (Raynham, MA/Bridgewater Raynham Regional) brought both of them home with a double to the gap in right center.

Sophomore Cat Worthington (Pownal, VT/Mount Anthony Union) then plated a run, before an error allowed a second to score, giving RPI a 4-0 advantage. Freshman Liv Vizzini (Vernon, NJ/Vernon Township) then drove in a run with a single, before DeStefano capped the rally with a run-scoring base hit of her own – her second hit of the inning.

Freshman catcher Alex Ledger (North Smithfield, RI/North Smithfield) then crushed her first collegiate home run – a two-run shot to left – to give the hosts an 8-0 lead in the fourth. Vizzini knocked in graduate student Maddie Provencher (Rutland, MA/Wachusett Regional) late in the frame with a single through the left side of the infield.

In the circle, sophomore Alexis Cooke (Newton, NJ/Kittatinny Regional) allowed just four hits – all singles – while striking out four and walking two. The complete-game shutout was her second of the year. RIT starter Melissa Gould (Harleysville, PA/Souderton Area) also went the distance, surrendering nine runs (8 earned) on 12 hits over 4.0 innings. She had one strikeout and four walks.

In Game 2, the Engineers plated one run in the second and three in the third for an early 4-0 advantage. Vizzini continued her hot hitting, driving in the game's first run, when she doubled to left center, scoring Worthington.

RPI's three-run third came thanks to an RIT error and RBIs from Ledger and Provencher, who wound up going 3 for 3 in her final home contest. Her second hit of the day – a double to deep left – scored classmate Allie Hunt (Pittsfield, MA/Pittsfield) for a 4-0 advantage in the fifth. Worthington then knocked in the hosts' sixth run with a double to right.

The Tigers scored their lone run of the day in the top of the sixth, when senior Raquel Estrada (Middletown, NY/Middletown) grounded out to third base to bring home classmate Julia Vaillancourt (Braintree, MA/Braintree).

Sophomore Brooke Sroczinski (Raynham, MA/Bishop Feehan) through all 7.0 innings for the Engineers, giving up just one run on five hits. She struck out four and walked one to improve to 3-2 on the year. Senior Samm Carroll (Woodbridge, NJ/Woodbridge) took the loss for the Tigers, allowing four runs (1 earned) on six hits over 3.0 innings.

Both teams are back in action tomorrow afternoon for a doubleheader in Rochester (1pm).