Castleton, VT-The Castleton State College softball team dropped a pair of non-conference games to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute by mercy-rule 8-0 and 10-0, both in five innings. With the losses Castleton falls to 4-16 on the season while the Red Hawks improve to 21-5.
Game One: Julianne Bass hit a pair of homeruns and Felicia Bua pitched five innings of shut-out ball to lead Rensselaer to the win.
RPI started things off in the first inning as Jen Bach roped a three-run homerun after Sara Finkbeiner and Becky Bailey drew walks to start the game. Bach was called out after it was ruled she had missed second base, to make it 2-0. Bass immediately followed with her first homerun of the game to make it 3-0.
The Red Hawks picked up two more on a Bach single, followed by Bass's second homerun of the game. Logan Russell added a two-run double in the fifth that plated a pair of unearned runs as RPI cruised to the mercy-rule victory. Bua scattered three hits while striking out four in the win.
Laura Rogers, Hilary Bemis and Angie Carpenter each had one hit for Castleton. Carpenter went all five innings, taking the loss, allowing six earned on nine hits while striking out two.
Game Two: Rensselaer pounded out 15 hits and received three hits apiece from Sara Finkbeiner and Jen Bach as the Red Hawks took the mercy-rule victory.
RPI plated three runs in the first, five in the second and two in the third en route to the win. Bach added a solo homerun, and ended the doubleheader an impressive 6-for-7 with five RBI and five runs scored.
Beth Gargon was 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored, while Jessica Sitzer and Coutrney Sweeney each had two hits and one RBI.
Michelle Bianchetti tossed the complete game, striking out four and allowing three hits.
Laura Rogers walked and singled to lead the Spartan offense in the nightcap. Rogers also took the loss, going the distance, allowing seven earned runs.
Castleton returns to North Atlantic Conference play Thursday afternoon against Johnson State in a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 pm.
RPI will travel to Rochester on Sunday for a 12:00 pm Liberty League doubleheader.
