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Engineers edge Saints softball, 4-3

Posted 5/5/12

The St. Lawrence University softball team's fifth inning rally fell short as Rensselaer held on for a 4-3 victory in game one of the Liberty League Tournament at Doris Robison Field in Troy, NY. The …

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Engineers edge Saints softball, 4-3

Posted

The St. Lawrence University softball team's fifth inning rally fell short as Rensselaer held on for a 4-3 victory in game one of the Liberty League Tournament at Doris Robison Field in Troy, NY. The Engineers, now 25-12, advance into the winners' bracket and will take on Rochester at 12:30pm on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Saints fell to 19-12 and will battle Union on Saturday at 10:00am.

RPI struck early in the opening frame, loading the bases with just one out on the board. Tori Hunt drove in the game's first run as she hit into a fielder's choice which saw the throw come home, but the Saints could not make the play as Jocelyn Rudisill scored from third.

Caitlin McGivern followed with an infield grounder which was misplayed for another Rensselaer run. Despite the Engineers keeping the bases loaded with two outs in the inning, the Saints made the third out to prevent more damage and end the frame.

The score remained 2-0 until the bottom of the fourth when, with bases loaded once again, Kelly Erkert drew a walk off junior captain Elizabeth McGinley to bring in the third run. Rudisill followed, sending a quick shot just over Saint shortstop Aisha O'Connor's glove to bring the score to 4-0.

St. Lawrence battled back in the fifth, sending a pair of runs across to cut the deficit to 4-2. Sophomore Cailyn Welsh got things started with a single and junior Lauren Weisbarth reached on an error to put runners on first and second. O'Connor then smacked a triple to right center field to make it a two-run game.

Sophomore Leslie Stratton wrapped up the scoring as she dropped a single in front of the centerfielder to drive in O'Connor and make it a 4-3 contest.

Both teams had their chances in the later innings, but the Engineers held the Saints off to escape with the 4-3 victory.

First-year Kristina Weltzin earned the win on the mound for the Engineers as she surrendered seven hits and three runs over 7.0 innings, striking out eight while walking one.

For the Saints, McGinley also gave up seven hits and four runs, only two of which were earned, over 6.0 innings pitched while striking out three and walking one.