TROY, N.Y. - The top three batters in the lineup combined to go 6 for 8 with five runs and five RBI to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team to an 8-0 victory in 5.0 innings over Union College in the first round of the Liberty League Tournament at Doris Robison Field.

The No. 1 seed, the Engineers (32-7) advance to the winners' bracket and play either No. 2 University of Rochester or No. 3 Ithaca College on Friday at 10am. The Dutchwomen, the No. 4 seed who won a play-in game to start the day, drops to 15-19. The Dutchwomen face either the Yellowjackets or Bombers at 12:30pm on Friday.

After starter Erika Holowka kept Union to a single in the first inning, RPI's first two batters, Erin Askins and Catherine Worthington, reached on bunt singles. The third batter, Gabby Comeau, knocked in Askins with a single and Worthington later came across the plate on a sacrifice fly by Alex Ledger.

The home team made it 7-0 with a five-run second inning. The first two hitters reached on singles with the first, Evann McDowell, eventually scoring on a hit by Askins. Worthington singled up the middle to plate Sydney Speanburg to make it 4-0 and Comeau doubled down the left field line to score Askins and Worthington. Comeau, Rensselaer's catcher, eventually scored on a wild pitch. 

The score remained 7-0 until a Maddy Brooks single scored McDowell to end the game after five innings. 

Askins went 2 for 2 with a walk, two runs, and an RBI; Worthington was 2 for 3 with two runs and a run batted in; and Comeau had two hits in three at bats with a run and three RBI. McDowell was 1 for 1 with two walks and two runs scored.

Holowka allowed just three hits and no walks with three strikeouts in 4.0 innings to improve to 14-2. 

Union starter Autumn Duff took the loss to fall to 5-6. The Dutchwomen got two of their three hits from center fielder Karson Saunders.