TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team swept a home doubleheader against St. Lawrence this afternoon at Robison Field, winning the opener 6-0 before edging the Saints 1-0 in game two to improve to 23-11 on the season.  

RPI broke through with a four-run fifth inning and added two more in the sixth, while Callie Volker and Maggie Kreis combined to limit St. Lawrence to five hits in the first shutout. 

After four scoreless frames, the Engineers loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth. Gaby Heim singled and Sydney Speanburg walked, and after pinch runner Kylie Grabler moved into scoring position, Callista Adorno was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Olivia Termi then lined a two-run single up the middle to open the scoring, and Addison Shaffer followed with a two-run double to right to make it 4-0. 

RPI tacked on insurance in the sixth. Lauren Cosselman reached on an error and moved into scoring position, and Speanburg ripped an RBI double to left before McDowell added an RBI single to right to extend the lead to 6-0. 

Speanburg reached base four times (double, single, three walks), scored twice, and drove in a run, while McDowell went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Termi finished 2-for-3 with two RBI, and Shaffer went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI. 

In the circle, Volker tossed 5.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts, and Kreis closed it out with 2.0 scoreless frames and two strikeouts. 

Game two saw RPI use a third-inning rally to score the only run of the contest, and Ava Markert and Kreis combined to keep St. Lawrence off the board to complete the sweep. 

The Engineers manufactured the deciding run in the third. Speanburg singled to center and McDowell followed with an infield single to put two aboard, and Adorno singled to center to load the bases. With one out, Shaffer worked a walk to force in Speanburg for a 1-0 lead. 

Markert was sharp throughout, scattering four hits over 6.0 innings with two strikeouts, and Kreis handled the seventh to earn the save. St. Lawrence's best threat came in the seventh when Emily Siansky tripled, but RPI kept the tying run from scoring to preserve the shutout. 

Speanburg led the offense with a 2-for-3 performance and scored the game's lone run, while McDowell and Adorno each added a hit as RPI finished with seven hits. 

The Engineers will head to Clarkson next Saturday for their final doubleheader of the regular season.