CLERMONT, Fla. – The Union College softball team extended its winning streak to six games and improved to 7-1 on the season with a Wednesday sweep of Washington & Jefferson College and Luther College at Legends Park. Union beat the Presidents 8-1 and the Norse 6-1.

The Union pitchers dominated the day by allowing two runs total on Wednesday. Junior pitcher Amanda Granato (3-0) allowed one run on two hits and struck out two in the game-one win, as first-year Jessie Rooney earned her first collegiate save, fanning five of the eight batters she faced. Rooney won game two with a complete-game effort. Rooney (4-1) struck out three while throwing a two-hitter in seven innings of work.

Game One: Union 8, Washington & Jefferson 1

First-year Nahnny Sobetzko lead the way for the Dutchwomen, going 3-for-4 and one RBI, including a double. Senior Julia Boule was 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs.

Union broke the ice in the top of the third inning, tallying two runs. Senior Julissa Malana singled, stole second base, and eventually came home on a sacrifice fly by junio  Karson Saunders. Junior Olivia Valery then flied out to center to score junior Anna Zdunczyk to make the score 2-0 Union. In the fifth inning, the Presidents scored in the bottom half of the inning on a single, cutting the Union lead in half.

The Dutchwomen bats came alive in the top of the sixth, plating six runs in the inning. Sobetzko doubled to begin the inning and junior Samantha Long singled before classmate Tara Hartnett walked to load the bases. Senior Lindsey Podlaski pinch ran for Sobetzko and crossed the plate on a ground out,and Long scored on a wild pitch making it 4-1 Union. Zdunczyk then walked before Saunders doubled down the right field line, scoring Hartnett from third. After a hit batter, Boule singled into right center field to score both Saunders and Zdunczyk, then Sobetzko added an RBI double to complete the scoring.

Granato (3-0) threw 4.1 innings allowing two hits and one run, while striking out two batters to earn her third win of the year. Rooney entered in the bottom of the fifth inning with the tying run on third base and got a strikeout and pop out to end the threat. The first-year struck out five Washington & Jefferson batters to earn the save for Union.

Game Two: Union 6, Luther 1

Union struck first in the bottom of the second inning. Three singles by Boule, first-year Faith Hughes and Hartnett resulted in the first two Union runs, followed by a Malana single and a Zdunczyk grounder that advanced Hartnett home for a 3-0 Union lead.

In the following inning, after back-to-back walks from Boule and Valery, Sobetzko singled to load the bases. Rooney helped herself out by pushing the first runner home on a ground ball.  Hughes singled in Boule, followed by Hartnett doubling in Sobetzko to extend the lead to six.  

Luther ended Rooney's shutout bid, with an RBI double in the top of the seventh inning, scoring the Norse's lone run of the afternoon.

Rooney earned her fourth win of the season and Union extended its winning streak to six games, the longest for the team since a six-game streak in 2014. The 7-1 start is the best start for a Union team since starting the 2009 season with 10 wins in its first 11 games.

Union (7-1) will wrap up their Florida trip as the team takes on Wellesley and Middlebury tomorrow.  Game one against Middlebury begins at 10 a.m. and game two against Wellesley with take place at 12:15 p.m.