The Utica College softball team dropped a non-conference double header Wednesday as the RPI Engineers beat the Pioneers, 5-4 and 10-4 at Doris Robinson Field.
UC falls to 12-26 on the season and remains 4-10 in conference play while Rensselear Polytechnic Institute improves to 14-13-1 overall and 1-1 in the Liberty League.
Freshmen shortstop Jackie Gallagher (Cortlandt Manor, NY) continued her hot stick, smashing her first collegiate homerun in the top of the third, as she gave the Pioneers a three run lead. She is batting over .550 (9-for-16) over her last four games including six runs batted in. Gallagher currently ranks second on the team in at bats (132), hits (56), runs (29), and RBIs (24). UC led 4-2 going into the bottom of the seventh before RPI rallied three runs to get the victory. Freshmen pitcher
Stephanie Romanow (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) (New Hartford, NY) threw five complete innings allowing two earned runs on six hits. Madison Dinsmore (Theresa, NY) relieved Romanow only to give up four hits and three runs (two earned) and in the loss as her record dropped to 7-10.
In game two, both teams were scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when the Engineers jumped out to a five run lead, starting with a solo lead off homerun by Rensselear's McCarthy. Utica followed up in the top of the fifth with a run, stemming from an Elizabeth Dennis (Canastota, NY) triple and a Brittany Newton (Whitesboro, NY) RBI. RPI came right back in the bottom of the inning with three consecutive singles to regain the lead by five. The Pioneers would put together a two run inning in the sixth, however it was not enough and Rensselear answered once again, scoring four more runs in the bottom of the sixth, leaving UC with 10-4 deficit going into top of the seventh.
The Pioneers are back in action Friday as they travel to challenge local rival Hamilton College in their final double header of the season. The games are scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. and will be held at the Hamilton College Softball Field. The Continentals are currently 4-22 overall and 0-12 in the NESCAC.
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