SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team swept its second straight Liberty League doubleheader this afternoon with 14-5 and 3-1 victories at Union.

RPI came out firing with a four-run first and never looked back, piling up 15 hits and taking advantage of eight walks to secure the series-opening win. 

Sydney Speanburg started things with a leadoff walk and moved into scoring position on Evann McDowell's sacrifice bunt, and Callista Adorno cashed in with an RBI single. Olivia Termi followed with an RBI double, and after Addison Shaffer singled, two runs scored on a play that included a throwing error as the Engineers opened a 4-0 lead. 

Union answered with a run in the bottom of the first, but RPI responded in the second as Gaby Heim singled and Speanburg added a base hit to set up Adorno's RBI groundout, pushing the lead to 5-1. 

RPI kept tacking on, including an unearned run in the third, before Union trimmed the margin to 6-3 with a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth. 

The Engineers answered immediately, using a big four-run top of the sixth to regain separation. Heim opened the inning with a double and Speanburg worked a walk, and Adorno delivered again with an RBI single. Termi followed with a two-run single, and Maddy Brooks added a sacrifice fly to make it 10-3. 

RPI kept the pressure on in the seventh, plating four more. Speanburg and McDowell drew walks, Adorno knocked in another run with an RBI single, and Termi drove in one more with a single before Shaffer's sacrifice fly and Brooks' RBI single capped the scoring. 

Adorno powered the offense with a 3-for-5 day and a game-high four RBI, while Termi went 4-for-5 and matched Adorno with four runs driven in. Speanburg reached base four times (three walks, single) and scored three runs, and Heim finished 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. 

RPI used four pitchers in the circle. Callie Volker started and struck out four in 3.0 innings, Maggie Kreis earned the win with 2.0 innings of relief, Jackie Cutting worked the sixth, and Natalie Kopf closed it out with a scoreless seventh. 

The second game of the day saw the Engineers lean on timely hits from Adorno and a complete-game effort from Ava Markert, as RPI secured the sweep with a 3-1 triumph.

Union struck first in the bottom of the first with an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead, but Markert settled in and kept the Garnet Chargers from adding on. 

RPI broke through in the fifth. Gaby Heim doubled and Speanburg was hit by a pitch to set the table, and after Speanburg stole second, Adorno ripped a two-run single through the right side to put the Engineers in front, 2-1. 

The Engineers added an insurance run in the seventh. Speanburg doubled to left, and Adorno followed by drilling an RBI double to center to make it 3-1. 

Adorno was the catalyst all game, going a perfect 4-for-4 with a double and all three RBI, while Speanburg went 1-for-3 with a double, was hit by a pitch, stole a base, and scored twice. 

Market allowed just the one run while striking out five.

The Engineers next head to Ithaca tomorrow for a 1:00 / 3:00 pm doubleheader.