UTICA, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team made history on Wednesday afternoon, as Alexis Cooke and Maggie Kreis combined for a six-inning no-hitter in Game 1 of a two game doubleheader at Utica. The Engineers bested the Pioneers in both games, winning 10-0 (6 inn.) and 10-5. With the wins, RPI improves to 15-5 overall, while the Pioneers fall to 14-8 overall.
 
Game 1
Cooke kept the Pioneers off the board for five innings, striking out four. Kreis came in to pitch the sixth inning, facing four batters in striking out one. The Engineers did not surrender a walk in the game.
 
Alex Ledger delivered the opening punch, a solo home run over the left center field fence to give RPI the 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. The Engineers taked on two more runs in the fourth inning, as Catherine Worthington and Callista Adorno had RBI knocks – Worthington providing a single to right center while Adorno doubled to the wall in left field.
 
The levy broke in the top of the sixth for RPI, as they batted around and scored seven runs, with the big blow coming once again from Worthington – an RBI single up the middle scoring two runs that pushed the lead to 8-0 before an error two batters later scored the latter two runs to make it 10-0 RPI.
 
After a leadoff strikeout to open the inning for Utica, an error put a runner on for the Pioneers. A fielders choice gave out number two of the inning before a line drive snagged at third base by Liv Vizzini completed the no-no.
 
Game 2
Erin Askins collected three hits and four RBI as the Engineers took the second game 10-5.
 
Sydney Speanburg and Askins each delivered RBI hits in the top of the second inning, pushing RPI's lead to 3-0.
The score remained so until the bottom of the fifth inning, as Utica broke through with a run after Cassidy Doiron doubled to right field, scoring their first run of the day to make it 3-1.
 
RPI pulled away in the top of the seventh inning, as Worthington continued her strong day with a double to left that opened the flood gates. Gabby Comeau, Adorno, Caroline Peel, and Askins all followed with RBI hits in the inning – with Askins providing a double to go up 10-1.
 
Utica fought back in the bottom of the seventh, scoring four times with a bases-clearing RBI double by Maddie Zulager that scored three runs. Abigail Sacks then brought Zulager home with an RBI single that brought the score to 10-5. But Kries once again shut the door on the Pioneers, recording the final out of the game to give the Engineers the win.
 
The Engineers return to action on Saturday, April 15 at 1 p.m when they head to Skidmore in Liberty League action.