SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- The Union College softball team won its second straight ECAC Division III Upstate Softball Championship title with a 6-4 comeback victory over Alfred Sunday afternoon at Alexander Field. The Dutchwomen rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead and were backed by a seven-strikeout relief effort from tournament Most Outstanding Player Ginni Sack (Burnt Hills, N.Y.). Union wraps up its season with a 32-6 overall record, and a 14-3 mark at home.

 

For the tournament, Sack earned three wins in two complete games with a 1.08 earned run average. The sophomore allowed three runs (two earned) on 14 hits, only two of which were for extra bases, while striking out nine batters and walking three.

 

The Saxons handed Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) a 10-0, five-inning loss in Sunday's first game to set up a rematch of last year's championship tilt after splitting games on the first day of play Saturday. Sophomore hurlers Holly Seidewand and Jesika LeBarron combined for a two-hit shutout of the Red Hawks, with starter Seidewand collecting her 16th win on the season in the three-inning effort.

 

In the championship game, Ashley Kovack (Ridgefield, Conn.) sparked Union's fifth-inning rally with a solo home run over the left field fence. With one out, Megan Bordino (New Paltz, N.Y.) and Michelle Rogers (Clarence, N.Y.) singled before advancing on a Megan Kaknis (New Windsor, N.Y.) groundout. With runners on second and third and two outs, Catherine Kielb (Rensselaer, N.Y.) singled to center, scoring Bordino, and Rogers was safe at the plate on the long throw from the outfield.

 

Alfred (24-13) picked up three runs on three hits in the top of the first, scoring leadoff hitter Seidewand on an Ashley Passaro single through the left, and Karen Folts on a Jessica Figallo double down the left field line. Passaro came across when LeBarron grounded out to shortstop.

 

Kaknis drove a two-run home run over the centerfield fence to get two back for the Dutchwomen in the bottom of the inning, but the Saxons claimed another in the top of the second on an RBI double to left from Seidewand.

 

Lindsay Larabee (Westfield, Mass.) singled to lead off the bottom of the second and advanced on a Bridget Graham (Orchard Park, N.Y.) double through the right before crossing on a sac fly to center by Alex King (Chester Springs, Pa.).

 

Sack allowed four hits in 5.2 innings of relief to earn her 23^rd win of the season. Starter Tiffany Ippoliti (Schuylerville, N.Y.) allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits in the first 1.1 innings.

 

Seidewand took the loss with six runs on nine hits; she struck out one and walked one.