TROY, NY -- RPI and Union kicked off the Liberty League softball championships this afternoon, with the Engineers shutting out the Dutchwomen, 8-0 in six innings.

Union had five hits and five left on base this afternoon, but it wasn't enough to keep up with RPI's 12 hits and eight runs. 

In the early innings of today's game RPI jumped on a quick 2-0 lead, but things remained fairly even keeled. Union's defense responded to the early deficit and allowed just one run over the next three innings. However, its offense struggled to string hits together and produce runs, all day long.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Dutchwomen got caught off guard. Makayla Koehler struck out an Engineer, looking, but due to the drop third strike rule the defense had to go after the batter attempting to reach first safely. Despite getting the batter out at first, one run had scored as well as another runner advancing to third on the play. RPI's runner on third again advanced and stole home as a Union mound meeting appeared to be happening, with the ball still live.

RPI tacked on three more runs in the sixth inning to pull ahead with an 8-0 lead and secure the victory for game one of the postseason tournament.

Carli Voellm, Stuart Buxton and Nikki DiTizio each had one hit. Kendall Rogoff had two hits in today's match up.

With today's loss, the Dutchwomen fall into the loser's bracket of the tournament and must fight to stay alive tomorrow, with a 12:30 p.m. game against Ithaca or Rochester.