CLERMONT, Fla. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team fell to Nebraska Wesleyan, 3-1, and Messiah, 2-1 in eight innings, on Tuesday afternoon at Legends Way Field #3. With the two defeats, the Engineers drop to 3-4 on the season, while the Prairie Wolves and Falcon improve to 8-2 and 4-2, respectively.
Nebraska Wesleyan took advantage of two first inning errors to plate a pair of runs. Kailey Meyer delivered a two-run single to left to drive in Hanna Roth and Paige Davidson.
The Prairie Wolves tacked on an insurance run in the top of the fourth, when Roth ripped a base hit to left that plated Bre Schneidewind from second for a 3-0 advantage.
RPI, which was held to just three hits through six innings, mounted a rally in the seventh.
Jessica Torch reached on an infield single to lead off the inning, before a lineout and foul out.
Gabby Comeau rolled a single through the right side of the infield, before
Liv Vizzini singled back through the middle to score Torch.
Meyer (4-1) was then able to induce a groundout to end the game. She threw all 7.0 innings, allowing one run on six hits with six strikeouts. For RPI,
Alexis Cooke (1-2) took the loss, surrendering three runs (2 earned) on six hits in 4.0 innings. Brooke Srozinski worked 3.0 perfect innings in relief, striking out a pair.
Messiah broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning to open the scoring in the second game of the day for the Engineers. Sarah Lippin led off the frame with a bunt single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on a groundout to short. McKenzie came through with the big hit, singling up the middle for a 1-0 lead.
Senior righthanded Madison Walter held the Engineers scoreless until the top of the seventh, when
Erin Askins reached on a bunt single ahead of a fielder's choice off the bat of Comeau in which the Falcons did not record an out. After a strikeout, Srozinski looped a single to right, scoring Torch to tie the game at 1-1.
RPI was able to place two runners in scoring position in the top of the eighth, but Walter was able to escape, recording a lineout and a strikeout to send the game to the bottom of the inning.
In the bottom half, freshman Madison Gohn dropped down a sacrifice bunt, before Tess Spinosa bunted home the winning run.
Walter (2-2) gave up just one run on four hits over 8.0 innings, striking out eight and walking one. RPI starter
Erika Holowka (2-2) surrendered two runs (1 earned) on seven hits over 7.1 innings. She had six strikeouts and two walks.
RPI is back in action tomorrow afternoon, when it takes on Simmons University at 12:15pm. The Engineers then play a doubleheader with John Carroll, starting at 3pm.
