TROY, N.Y. – The Union College softball team earned the program's first Liberty League Tournament in eight years, with their win over Clarkson on Thursday morning from Doris Robison Field. Union won 6-1 in game one before falling to RPI in the second game of the tournament, 8-0 in five innings.

Senior Karson Saunders was Union's only hitter who recorded multiple hits this afternoon, batting 3-4 in the game with two walks and a run. Sophomore Nahnny Sobetzko led the way with two RBI in game one.

Senior Tara Hartnett set Union's Single Season Walks Record today in the bottom of the third inning against Clarkson, earned her 21st walk of the season which passed, Shannon Lawlor (20) who has 20 walks in 1999. Hartnett also earned her 22nd walk of the season in this game as well.

Game One: Union College 6, Clarkson 1

Union kick started the offense in the bottom of the second inning in the 4/5 seeded play in game for the Liberty League. First-year Ellie Wintringer earned Union's first hit of the morning with a double down the left field line. Sophomore Tatum Perkins then doubled in Wintringer, giving Union a 1-0 lead with one out. First-year Haley Gibbons reached first on an error by the shortstop that scored Perkins, to make it 2-0 Union after two innings of play.

In the top half of the fourth inning, with two outs and a runner on first, Clarkson doubled in their first run to cut into Union's lead. With Union leading 2-1 through four innings, the Dutchwomen took control in the bottom of the fifth.

Senior Amanda Granato opened the inning, reaching safely on an error and advancing to second. Hartnett singled to center field and scored Granato from second. Saunders then batted, lining a single back up the middle and moving Hartnett to second.

Senior Olivia Valery then singled to right field to load the bases with no one out in the fifth with a 3-1 lead for Union. After a force out at home plate, Sobetzko batted with the bases still loaded. She lined a single into left field, scoring both Valery and Saunders, giving Union a 5-1 lead. Sophomore Autumn Duff helped herself out in the circle with an RBI single to center that scored Wintringer. Union led 6-1 after five innings of action.

The Golden Knights managed just two hits for the rest of the game as Union won 6-1 for their first Liberty League tournament win since 2015.

Granato (6-9) earned the win in the circle throwing 4.2 innings of work and striking out three batters while allowing one run. Duff (1) was credited with the save, and pitched 2.1 innings, struck out two and allowed two hits.

Game Two: RPI 8, Union 0 (5 innings)

With Union's 6-1 win over Clarkson, they were next up to play Liberty League top seed RPI. The Engineers jumped all over the Dutchwomen from the first pitch. RPI plated two runs in the opening frame, to take a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the second inning, they added five more runs, making it 7-0 RPI after two innings of play. After the second inning, Union seemed to settle into the game, but they were unable to find a run, and RPI scored one more run in the bottom of the fifth inning, to invoke the run rule and win 8-0 over Union in five innings.

Duff (5-6) was tabbed with the loss for Union, after throwing 1.1 innings and allowing seven runs on eight hits. Sophomore Melody Kappel threw 3.0 innings of relief, striking out one batter and allowing one hit and one run.

Union will continue on in the Liberty League Tournament as they await to play the loser of today's 3 p.m. game between Rochester and Ithaca. That game tomorrow is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. from Doris Robison Field in Troy, N.Y.
 
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 11
Play-In Game: #4 Union vs. #5 Clarkson, 10:00 a.m. (Union win 6-1)
Game 1: #1 Rensselaer v. #4 Union, 12:30 p.m. (RPI win 8-0, 5 innings)
Game 2: #2 Rochester vs. #3 Ithaca, 3:00 p.m.

Friday, May 12                                                                                                   
Game 3: Game 1 #1 RPI vs. Game 2  #2 Rochester/#3 Ithaca Winner, 10:00 a.m.
Game 4: Game 1 #4Union vs. Game 2 #2 Rochester #3 Ithaca Loser, 12:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Winner, 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 13                                                                                           
Game 6: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner, 12:00 p.m.
Game 7: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner, 2:30 p.m. (If Necessary)