COBLESKILL, N.Y. – The Union College softball team extended its win streak to eight games after sweeping a double header against SUNY Cobleskill on Tuesday afternoon in Cobleskill, N.Y. The Dutchwomen won the first game 5-0 and the second game 11-3.

Senior Julissa Malana was excellent in both games this afternoon. Malana went a combined 6-8 at the plate, recording two RBIs and scoring three runs. Junior Karson Saunders was also great from the batter's box, going 5-8 with three RBIs and two runs scored in the sweep.

With the two wins, Union (9-1) ties the 2009 team for the second-best 10-game start to a season in school history, behind only the 2006 team that won its first 12 games of the season. The current eight-game winning streak is the longest for the program since a 13-game streak to end the 2010 season.

Game One: Union 5, Cobleskill 0

First-year Jessie Rooney was the star in the game one. She struck out 13 Tigers all while throwing a complete game two-hitter to earn her fifth win of the season for the Dutchwomen.

Union broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third inning. After junior Tara Hartnett and Malana reached base, junior outfielder Anna Zdunczyk singled in both base runners to give Union a 2-0 lead. Saunders then doubled to left center to scored Zdunczyk. Junior Olivia Valery added an RBI after reaching on an infield single that plated Saunders from third. First-year Faith Hughes also got in on the scoring in the third inning, when she singled down the left field line to score Valery. Union lead 5-0 after the third inning.

This was the third time this season Union scored five or more runs in an inning. Union is 3-0 in games where that happens.

In the top of the sixth, Cobleskill put the pressure on Rooney after back-to-back runners reached base on an error and a single. But Rooney escaped the jam by striking out the next three batters to end the inning without giving up a run.  

Rooney earned her fifth win of the season with her fourth complete game of the year so far. Rooney's 13 strikeouts are the most strikeouts from a Union pitcher since 2014, when Alyssa Wolejko struck out 16 Golden Knights in a 6-0 win over Clarkson.

Game Two: Union 11, Cobleskill 3

Junior Amanda Granato earned her fourth win of the season, throwing a complete game in Union's 11-3 win in game two, while also going 1-3 with 2 RBI to help her own cause. Malana was 3-4 in game two and added 2 RBIs.

Granato opened the scoring for Union in the top of the second, with a sac fly to right field that scored Hughes from third base. Hartnett then singled up the middle and eventually came home on a Zduncyzk single to give Union a 2-0 lead.

Senior Julia Boule started the third inning with a lead off double and stole third. Hughes then singled up the middle, scoring Boule to extend the Dutchwomen lead to 3-0. After a Hartnett walk, Malana doubled in Hughes and Hartnett, followed by a Zduncyzk single of her own to score Malana. Valery capped off the inning with a two-run double that played Zdunczyk and Saunders to extend the lead to 8-0 Union.

In the bottom half of the fourth inning, Cobleskill broke up the Dutchwomen shutout bid, plating two runners, cutting the Union lead to 8-2.

Granato then helped herself out with a single up the middle that scored junior Samantha Long. Union added two more runs in the top of the seventh off a ground out from Saunders and a grounder off the bat of junior Hannah Mitchell that scored senior Rochelle Nuqui, giving Union an 11-2 lead.

Cobleskill added another run in the bottom of the seventh, before a fly out to end the game. Garanto struck out four batters while allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits.

The Dutchwomen (9-1) will get back on the diamond on Saturday, when they head north to take on St. Lawrence University for their first taste of Liberty League play. Game one is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Canton, N.Y. and game two is set for 3 p.m.