SCHENECTADY, NY – The Union softball team scored four runs in the sixth to bounce back with an 8-4 victory in the second game of a doubleheader vs. Liberty League rival Rensselaer Friday at Alexander Field. The Red Hawks won the opener, 8-6, scoring two runs in the top of the seventh en route to the triumph. Union now stands 21-7 overall and 3-1 in the league while the Red Hawks ended the day at 18-8, 3-3 in the league.
In the opener, freshman third baseman Kate Stira (Durham, CT/Coguinchaug) hit a two-run homer in the top of the seventh to snap a 6-6 tie. Stira had two hits in the contest. RPI also got a two-run homer by shortstop Sara Finkbeiner (Napanoch, NY/Ellenville) in the third, and had back-to-back fourth inning solo homers from catcher Julianne Bass (Costa Mesa, CA/Newport Harbor) and Natalie Gendron (Auburn, NH/Manchester Memorial). Michelle Street (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse-Minoa) improved to 9-4, allowing nine hits while striking out six in the complete game victory.
Union sophomore first baseman
Megan Kaknis (New Windsor, NY/NFA) hit her league leading 10
th and 11
th home runs of the season. She had a two run blast in Union's three-run first, and had a solo homer in the fifth. Kaknis had three hits with her three RBIs. Senior designated player
Colleen White (Westport, CT/Staples) had two hits for the Dutchwomen.
Union led 5-2 after three but the Red Hawks scored four in the fourth on the two homers to lead off the inning, and bases loaded walks. In the seventh, with one out, Gendron reached on an error at second, and after Caitlin Burns (Clinton, NY/Clinton) pinch ran, Strika hit her first homer of the season, out of right center, for the eventual game winning hit. Union freshman pitcher Ginny Sack (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills) took her first loss in eight decisions. She gave up two hits, one earned run and walked three while striking out two in 3 2/3 innings of relief.
In the nightcap, RPI took a 4-0 lead in the second as Stira hit a solo shot while centerfielder Courtney Sweeney (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa) had an RIB single and Gargon drove in two with a single. But Union got three on the board in the bottom of the third, as Kaknis had an RBI single and White hit a two-run, two-out double. Union scored a run in the fifth on a wild pitch and four in the sixth, coming on an RBI double by third baseman
Ashley Kovack (Ridgefield, CT/Ridgefield) while the other runs scored on a wild pitch and infield error on the same play.
Sack won her eighth for Union, with four earned runs allowed and a strikeout in the complete game. Starter Michelle Bianchetti (Highland Mills, NY/John S. Burke Catholic) fell to 9-4, giving up eight hits and three earned runs in five innings.
Union centerfielder
Kelly Owings (Oswego, NY/Oswego) had two hits while Gargon, Finkbeiner and second baseman Becky Bailey (Rome, NY/Rome) had two hits each for the Red Hawks.
Union hosts St. Lawrence for a Liberty League twinbill Sunday at 12 p.m., while Rensselaer plays a non-league doubleheader Saturday at Nazareth at 2 p.m.
