TROY, N.Y. – Mara Kipnis went 6 for 9 with two home runs to lead the Williams College softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), on Thursday afternoon at Doris Robison Field. With wins of 13-5 and 10-6, the Ephs improve to 9-5, while the Engineers drop to 8-10.
In Game 1, both teams put up multiple runs in the first inning, with Williams leading 3-2 after one. Kipnis then hit the first of her two homers in the top of the third, which was followed by an RBI-double from Ronni Romas and a two-run single from Taylor Wise for a 7-2 Ephs advantage.
Williams then tacked on one in the fourth and one in the sixth, before putting the game away with a four-run top of the seventh. Sydney Flemming highlighted the outburst with a two-run double to straight away center.
RPI did pull three runs back in the bottom half on four hits.
Caroline Peel drilled an RBI-single through the left side of the infield, before Cat Worthington plated a run with an infield single.
Erin Askins drove home the Engineers' final run with a ground out to second.
Madison Mok (3-0) threw a complete game for the visitors, allowing five runs (3 earned) on seven hits over 7.0 innings. She struck out one and walked two.
Alexis Cooke (2-5) suffered the loss for RPI, surrendering eight runs (6 earned) on 12 hits in 4.0 innings.
In Game 2, a pitcher's duel between RPI's
Brooke Sroczinski and Williams' Elyse Chan lasted through the fifth inning, with the game tied, 1-1.
The Ephs broke through in the top of the sixth, scoring four runs on four hits. Alyana Granados and Kayla Chang each singled, before Kipnis drilled her second home run of the day for a 5-1 lead.
Rensselaer fought back to score two in the bottom half to draw within 5-3. The Engineers took advance of a Williams error, before
Jessica Torch drove in a second run with a ground out to second.
In the top of the seventh, the Ephs created some separation, scoring five runs on six hits. Four straight hits opened the inning for Williams, including a two-run double off the bat of Adya Tandon. Granados followed with a triple to the gap in right center that also scored a pair. Kipnis capped the rally with a two-run single to center, giving the visitors a 10-3 lead.
Like in the opener, RPI rallied in its final frame and eventually got the tying run into the on deck circle.
Madie Campagna singled home a run, before
Ryleigh Greenwald drew a walk with the bases loaded to draw within 10-5. Pinch-hitter
Chloe Lewandowski then drove in the final run of the contest with a fielder's choice to third.
Chan (2-2) gave up six runs (4 earned) on 0 hits over 7.0 innings, striking out six and walking four. Sroczinski (1-1) allowed five runs on 10 hits over 6.0 innings, collecting two strikeouts and two walks.
The Engineers are back in action on Saturday, when they host a doubleheader with SUNY Cobleskill (TBA). Williams visits Skidmore College on Friday (3pm).
