SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- The top-seeded Union College softball team made quick work of its two opponents on the opening day of the 2008 ECAC Division III Upstate Softball Championship Tournament Saturday afternoon, defeating Oneonta, 9-1, in six innings and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 10-2, in five innings to advance to the noon game on Sunday. The Dutchwomen (31-6) will face the winner of the 10 a.m. game between RPI (27-12) and Alfred (22-12). If necessary, a third game at 2 p.m. Sunday will be played to determine a winner of the 2008 Championship.
Union was led by shortstop
Michelle Rogers (Clarence, N.Y.) who went 5-for-7 at the plate with a pair of doubles and four RBI. Sophomore pitcher
Ginni Sack (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) earned complete-game wins in both victories, allowing a combined three runs (two earned) on 10 hits.
The Dutchwomen jumped out to big leads in both games, holding a six-run lead after two innings against the Red Dragons before tagging three different Red Hawks hurlers for 10 runs on seven hits in the first inning of their second game of the day.
In the first game, backed by a two-hitter thrown by Sack, Union led, 7-1, headed into the bottom of the sixth. After pinch hitter
Callee Heywood (Innisfail, Alb.) doubled, advanced on a Rogers single and scored on a
Megan Kaknis (New Windsor, N.Y.) single, designated player
Alex King (Chester Springs, Pa.) plated another run to give the Dutchwomen an eight-run margin and the six-inning victory.
A pair of singles to right field advanced Shannon Egan to set up the run for Oneonta in the fourth, and the senior came around to cross home when the ball was misplayed in the outfield.
Union recorded two runs in the first inning on a Rogers double down the left field line and a
Lindsay Larabee (Westfield, Mass.) infield single.
Ashley Kovack (Ridgefield, Conn.) got two aboard in the next inning with a two-run homer to left center before
Kelly Owings (Oswego, N.Y) came across on a Rogers RBI groundout and
Catherine Kielb (Rensselaer, N.Y.) plated
Megan Bordino (New Paltz, N.Y.) on a double to left.
Oneonta's Rebecca Burkart took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits in one inning pitched.
In game two, the Dutchwomen batted around in the first frame, tagging three RPI pitchers for 10 runs on seven hits, led by a two-run double from
Kaitlin Graham (Orchard Park, N.Y.), and capped by a sacrifice fly to left by Kaknis.
After allowing the final Dutchwomen run of the first, Red Hawks' reliever Felicia Bua settled down, holding Union scoreless on two hits over the final three innings.
RPI picked up runs in the second and third, first on Beth Gargon's homer over the centerfield fence, then when junior Julianne Bass drew a bases loaded walk in the third frame.
Michelle Bianchetti took the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on two hits in the first.
Sack gave up two runs on eight hits to earn her second win of the day and 22nd of the season.
