TROY, N.Y. – Backed by outstanding pitching performances from Felicia Bua and Charlene Osmanski, including a one-hit effort from Osmanski in game two, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team swept Mount Saint Mary College in a non-league doubleheader at Doris Robison field on Thursday. With the victories, the Engineers improve to 13-5 overall, while the Knights drop to 10-9-1.

RPI pitching allowed a combined one run on six hits through both games. Bua (Gilford, N.H.) struck out 10 in a complete game effort in game one, while Osmanski (Elmhurst, Ill.) was nearly impossible for the Knights to hit in game two, allowing only a single hit through a complete seven innings in game two, striking out six.

Junior catcher Sara Heller (Guilderland, N.Y.) got the Engineers' offense going in game one, doubling down the left field line to start the inning and coming home on an RBI single by sophomore Caitlin McGivern (Bethlehem, Pa.). Rookie Dani Grage (Pittsford, N.Y.) belted another double to left that scored McGivern and put Rensselaer up 2-0.

RPI added a run in the third and two more in the fourth for a 5-0 advantage. The home team struck again in the sixth frame, as senior Alysa Rochminski (Schenectady, N.Y.) scored on a Mount Saint Mary error, but the Knights turned an inning-ended double play, their second of the game, to save more runs.

Mount Saint Mary avoided the shutout, with rookie Chelsea Hepburn (New York, N.Y.) singling to lead off the seventh inning and eventually scoring on a single from junior Rachel Gruenke (Narrowsburg, N.Y.).

Mount freshman Amanda Barrese (Staten Island, N.Y.) took the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) on 13 hits through 6.0 innings. She struck out one and walked one.

Game two was, up until the end, a battle of pitchers, with the entire contest taking less than an hour.

Finally, with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Jen Bach (Lansdale, Pa.) belted a double to left center for a clutch RBI that proved to be the game-winner. Heller, the next batter, singled to drive in Bach for a 2-0 lead, and the Engineers managed to escape with the narrow victory.

Mount Saint Mary sophomore Caitlin Maynes (Miller Place, N.Y.) shouldered the loss, despite allowing just two runs on five hits through 6.0 innings.

The Knights will host the Sage Colleges on Saturday in a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m. at Marlboro High School.