TROY, N.Y. - With a unique circumstance waiting in the balance at Doris Robison Field on Wednesday afternoon, the No. 15 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team dropped a heartbreaking 2-1 loss before pulling through with a 7-5 victory in the conclusion of a game they started back on April 9 against the Williams College Eephs. The win gives RPI their 30th win of the season, marking back-to-back seasons reaching the plateau.

Game 1

Despite an early run in the first inning and a complete game effort from Brooke Sroczinski, the Engineers offense was held down by a four-hit complete game by Sadie Leonard to help Williams to a 2-1 victory.

Erin Askins led off the bottom of the first with a bunt single, and was moved along to second after a sacrifice bunt from Evann McDowell. After an Alex Ledger walk, Gabby Comeau laced a single to center to score Askins, giving RPI the early edge.

Williams responded in the top of the third inning, scoring their two runs on one play. With two out and two on, Sydney Fleming connected with a pitch and sent it into the right center field gap. Both runs scored, with Flemming getting thrown out at third trying to extend into a triple. However, the play pushed Williams to the 2-1 lead.

Sroczinski and Leonard then battled it out in the circle throughout the remainder of the game. RPI threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning as they looked to tie things up. Comeau collected another single to lead off the inning before Catherine Worthington singled and Sydney Speanburg walked to load the bases with one away. 

Leonard was able to get the final two Engineers via strikeout - both swinging - to shut the door and give Williams the win,


Game 2 - See prior GAME RECAP from April 9

Picking up in the 11th inning of play, score at 3-3, and RPI now playing as the visitor, both sides went run-for-run over the first two innings. Each side was able to score their runner that began the inning on second base.

Worthington provided an RBI groundout in the Top of the 11th before an error in the bottom of the inning on a batted ball by Justine Dunaway allowed Williams to re-tie the game. In the 12th, an RBI groundout from McDowell proceed an RBI double for Williams by Kelly McGuigan in the bottom of the inning to push things to 5-5.

After neither side mustered a run in the 13th, it was a ball of the bat of Worthington in the top of the 14th that put RPI up once again. With the runner on second to begin the inning, Worthington roped a line drive to right field that was misplayed by the outfielder, allowing Charli Smith to score and put Worthington all the way to third base. With the Engineers now up 6-5, Speanburg then sent a sacrifice fly out to right to score Worthington to make things 7-5 in favor of RPI.

Sroczinski - who came in this game in relief of Ava Markert - went 1-2-3 with the Eephs in the bottom of the 14th to secure RPI's 30th win of the season.

The Engineers return to action on Saturday, May 3 starting at 2 p.m. when they play host to St. Lawrence on Senior Day in the regular season and Liberty League finale.