CLERMONT, Fla. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team went 1-2 on its fifth day of Spring Break competition, defeating Simmons University, 8-7, before dropping both games of a doubleheader to John Carroll by scores of 7-2 and 12-3 in five innings. Following their three-game day, the Engineers are now 4-6 on the season.

RPI and Simmons traded first inning runs in the first game of the day, before the Engineers broke out with a two-run third and a three-run fourth to take a 6-1 advantage. Junior Gabby Comeau delivered a pair of hits and three runs batted in to help the Engineers build their advantage.

A six-run Sharks fifth inning, gave the visitors a brief lead at 7-6. Highlighting the rally, was a two-run triple off the bat of senior Shannon McMahon, before a two-run base hit by sophomore Jordyn Rubin put Simmons in front.

The Engineers battled back to tie the game at 7-7 in the bottom half of the inning on a Ryleigh Greenwald triple to the gap in left center, that brought home sophomore Mikayla O'Neill. Comeau then gave the RPI the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth on her third hit of the game.

Junior Brooke Srozinski (1-0) was able to shut the door in the seventh to help RPI hold onto the win. She allowed two runs in two hits over 2.2 innings, striking out three and walking three. Starter Alexis Cooke gave up five runs on five hits over 4.1 innings, with four strikeouts and four walks.

In the doubleheader against John Carroll, RPI fell behind early in both contests. The Blue Streaks took advantage of three RPI errors to take an early 3-0 advantage in Game 1. The later added a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth to help secure the victory.

Erin Askins and Comeau came through with run-scoring hits in a two-run RPI sixth inning to get the visitors on the board.

In Game 2, John Carroll plated 11 runs in just five hits in the first inning to take a commanding lead. Serena Paterno drove in four runs in the frame, on two hits, including a single through the right side of the infield that put the Blue Streaks up 11-0.

Neither side was able to scratch another run across until the top of the fourth, when Kristen Jesberger lifted a sacrifice fly to right.

RPI rallied late once again, plating three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Catherine Worthington, Askins and Comeau all contributed run-scoring hits in the frame.

The Engineers are back on the diamond tomorrow afternoon, when they take on Emmanuel College (12:15pm) and Bridewater State University (3pm), in their final two Spring Break contests.