TROY, N.Y. – Senior Erika Holowka threw a one-hitter and junior Alexis Cooke allowed one earned run in a complete game to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Clarkson University, on Wednesday afternoon at Doris Robison Field. With wins of 2-0 and 6-2, the Engineers improve to 18-14 overall, while the Golden Knights drop to 11-12 (2-5 Liberty League).

Both teams were held hitless until the top of the fourth inning, when Catherine Worthington led off the frame with a looping single to center. After a sacrifice bunt from Erin Askins moved her to second, Worthington made it up to third on a wild pitch. Liv Vizzini then got the Engineers on the board with a base hit to right center, scoring Worthington.

RPI then added a second run in the fifth, this time getting a lead off hit from junior Chloe Lewandowski. She stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Senior Ryleigh Greenwald brought her home with a sacrifice fly to deep center.

Clarkson broke up Holowka's no-hit bid with one out in to the bottom of the seventh, when Kayla Robert doubled to right. Holowka was able to induce a groundout and a pop out to end the game and preserve the shutout – her second of the season.

In the game, Holowka (8-4) allowed one hit over 7.0 innings, striking out 10 and walking two. Her counterpart, Olivia Zoeller (5-5), gave up two runs on four hits in 7.0 innings, striking out 13 and walking one.

RPI jumped out an early 3-0 lead in the nightcap, plating three in the top of the first. Askins drove in the first run of the game on a fielder's choice, before Gabby Comeau grounded out to first for a 2-0 advantage. Alex Ledger capped the rally with a hard single through the left side of the infield, scoring Askins.

Sophomore Mikayla O'Neill tacked an insurance run in the top of the fourth, launching her second home run of the season over the fence in left.

The Golden Knights plated their only runs of the day in the bottom of the sixth, when Sarah Vaccaro belted a two-run shot to left, cutting the RPI lead in half.

Rensselaer answered with a two-run top of the seventh to push its lead back to four. Ledger again came through with the big hit, doubling to the gap in left center with one away, to bring home pinch-runner Megan Wampner and Askins.

Cooke (6-7) went the distance for the Engineers in the circle, allowing two run (1 earned) on four hits over 7.0 innings. She struck out eight and walked two. Devin Fitzpatrick (3-2) took the loss for Clarkson, surrendering four runs (2 earned) on five hits in 4.0 innings. She had four strikeouts and did not walk a batter.

RPI is back in action on Saturday, when it visits area-rival Union for a doubleheader (1pm). Clarkson travels to RIT on Saturday (1pm).