SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College softball team needed four runs in fifth inning of game two, to erase a 9-7 deficit on their way to a sweep of Liberty League opponent RIT on Sunday afternoon from Alexander Field. Union earned its first two wins in conference play with a game one 10-4 win and completing the comeback in game two for a 12-9 win.

Senior Karson Saunders went 6-7 in the two games with 4 RBI, three singles, a double, triple, and a home run. She was a single short of the cycle in game two. She also scored seven runs and stole two bases. Saunders is now tied for second place all-time in single season stolen bases (14) with Erika Eisenhut (14) who did this in 2006.

First-year Ellie Wintringer was 3-7 in the twinbill with two doubles and seven RBI, including five in game one. Senior Olivia Valery went 4-7 with 4 RBI, a double and scored three runs for Union. Sophomore Nahnny Sobetzko also went 4-8, plated 3 RBI and hit a double.

Game One: Union College 10, RIT 4

Union (9-11, 2-2 LL) opened the scoring in game one with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning to give Union a 2-0 lead. Following walks from senior Amanda Granato and Saunders, Wintringer ripped a double into the left center gap and scored both Granato and Saunders on the play.

RIT cut into Union's lead with a double of their own in the third inning. In the bottom of the inning, Union extended the lead once again. Granato and Saunders both singled and, after both baserunners advanced on a wild pitch, Valery singled and score Granato. Wintinger then knocked her second double in as many at-bats, scoring both Saunders and Valery in the process. Union led 5-1 after three innings.

In the fifth inning, Wintringer plated her fifth RBI of the game with a sac fly to right field that scored Saunders. Sobetzko jumped in on the action with a double of her own that scored Valery, extending Union's lead to 7-1.

The Tigers scored two runs on three hits in the top of the sixth to pull within four runs, but the Dutchwomen put the game out of reach thanks to four singles that scored three runs in the bottom half. Valery scored Kappel from second on a single, and Sobtezko grabbed two more RBI with a single up the middle to plate Saunders and Valery.

In the top of the seventh, RIT scored one more run, before Union finished off game one and earned a 10-4 win and their first win in Liberty League play. Granato (3-5) earned her third win of the season with a complete-game performance. She struck out three batters, while allowing three runs in the win.

Game Two: Union College 12, RIT 9

Game two between these two teams saw 34 hits and 21 runs scored in an offensive game. Union grabbed a quick 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, that saw all nine batters make a plate appearance.

Sophomore Melody Kappel doubled with one out to kick start the Union offense. Saunders then tripled to left center field and scored Kappel for a 1-0 lead. Wintringer scored Saunders with a fielder's choice to make it 2-0, and Sobetzko continued her great day with a single that scored Wintringer. After a single by sophomore Tatum Perkins, classmate Autumn Duff doubled to left field, scoring both Sobetzko and Perkins for a 5-0 lead in the opening frame.

In the top half of the second inning, The Tigers scored three runs on five hits to cut into the Union lead 5-3. The Dutchwomen got one run back in the bottom half on a single off the bat of Wintringer, plating Granato for a 6-3 lead.

RIT grabbed their first lead of the afternoon, with a crooked number in the fourth inning. The Tigers scored six runs on eight hits, including six singles for a 9-6 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Saunders launched her team-leading third home run of the season ito pull Union back to within two, 9-7, and then completed the comeback in the fifth inning. Sophomore Riley Callahan and senior Tara Hartnett each singled with one out and a Kappel walk loaded the bases for Saunders, who ripped a two-out double to score Hartnett and Callahan and tie the game at 9-9. Valery then doubled down the left field line and scored both Kappel and Saunders to give Union a 11-9 lead.

Union extended their led to 12-9 in the bottom of the sixth inning, with a single from Callahan that scored senior Samantha Long from second base.

Kappel (4-3) earned her fourth win of the season, striking out four batters in three innings of scoreless relief. Duff started the game and pitched three innings. Callahan was the second pitcher to throw, with one inning of work.

Union will head back out on the road for a six-game road trip. Their first opponent is SUNY Oneonta for a double header on Thursday, April 20. First pitch for game one is set for 3:00 p.m.