Troy, NY— The Engineers of RPI collected a pair of non-conference wins as they swept Sage on Tuesday afternoon. Ranked No. 22, RPI took the first game 9-1 in five innings and 7-1 in the nightcap. The wins put RPI at 13-2 and Sage drops to 5-9 on the season.
Game #1 RPI 9-1 Sage
In Game 1, the Engineers scored all nine of their runs in the bottom of the third inning. Junior Veronica DeStefano led off the frame with a double to fence in left, before freshman Jessica Torch reached on a bunt single. A stolen base and a sacrifice fly followed, plating the first run of the inning. Then, freshman Erin Askins (Tehachapi, CA/Tehachapi) lifted an opposite field home run to left – the first of her collegiate career – to open up a 3-0 lead.
With two outs in the inning, RPI sparked a second rally, as seven straight batters reached, beginning with a single by junior Cam Caswell (Prospect, CT/Woodland Regional) and pair of walks to load the bases. Four consecutive singles followed, with junior Quin Garant (Anaheim Hills, CA/Canyon) driving home a pair with a base hit through the right side.
Sage scored its only run of the contest in the top of the fourth, when senior Kiersten Duncan (Millerton, NY/Taconic Hills) led off with a double to right and came around on looping single over second base by junior Alicia Swavely (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy). Duncan continues to add to her run for the Sage career doubles mark. She now has 41 career doubles and is just four away from breaking the career double mark held by Hillary Faas (44).
Freshman righthander Erika Holowka (Forked River, NJ/Lacey Township) picked up the win in the circle to improve to 7-1 on the year. She allowed one run on one hit over the abbreviated 5.0-inning complete game, striking out four.
Sage's sophomore pitcher Katerina Lagace (Newington, CT/Newington) took the loss with 9 earned runs off 10 hits in 3.0 innings of work. She fanned 4 before being replaced by rookie pitcher Victoria Alvord (Greenfield Center, NY/Saratoga Central Catholic) who struck out one with two hits and no runs allowed on her appearance. Lagace drops to 1-4 on the season.
Game #2 RPI 7-1 Sage
In the nightcap, the two clubs traded single runs in the first inning, before the Engineers once again struck for a crooked number in the bottom of the third. Askins and and Caswell each delivered run-scoring hits, before a Sage error allowed two more to come home.
A sacrifice fly by Askins in the fourth and an RBI-ground out from sophomore Kyla Anderson (Mission Viejo, CA/Capistrano Valley) capped the scoring for the Engineers.
Sophomore Taylor Spargo (Wurstboro, NY/Monticello) went the distance for RPI, picking up her fourth win (4-0), while surrendering one unearned run on six hits over 7.0 innings. She struck out two and walked one. Swavely (3-1) suffered her first loss of 2019, giving up six runs (4 earned) on seven hits over 3.1 innings.
Torch led the Engineers at the plate, going a combined 5 for 5 in the two games, with two walks, three runs, an RBI and six stolen bases. Caswell finished 4 for 7 with three runs and an RBI. The 11-game winning streak is the programs longest since 2009, when it also won 11 in a row.
Senior Lindsey Decker (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa) was 2 for 3 at the plate, while graduate performer Lisa Kentris (Latham, NY/Shaker) was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Sage is slated to open Empire 8 play this weekend with a pair of road double headers on March 29 and 30 at Alfred University and Houghton College.