TROY, N.Y. – Senior third baseman Genevieve Falco delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth to drive home the winning run in game two and complete a doubleheader sweep for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) over SUNY Oneonta on Tuesday. RPI won game one by a 3-2 margin and were victorious in game two, 5-4, in extra innings. The Engineers are now 21-7, while the Red Dragons fall to 16-17 overall.

Locked in a 4-4 battle after seven complete innings in game two, SUNY Oneonta nearly grabbed the victory in the extra innings, but clutch pitching by senior Jen Bach (Lansdale, PA/Gwynedd Mercy Academy) and a long fly ball grab by a diving Kelly Erkert (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Township) in centerfield on a rocket shot by junior Jillian Serraro (Hopewell Jct., NY/John Jay), kept the game tied heading into RPI's half of the inning.

With a runner on third after a sacrifice bunt by junior Sam Paulding (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker), Falco (Seaford, NY/Seaford) stepped up to the plate. Rookie pitcher Kelly Leggett (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa) tried to throw it outside, but Falco connected and sent a long fly ball toward right field that fell just short of the wall to drive in the game-winning run.

Bach earned the victory in the circle, allowing just one run on three hits over 4.0 innings of relief. She was also solid at the plate, going 2 for 4 which included her 12th homerun of the season. The shot, which lined over the right field wall, tied the all-time single season mark which she set last season.

For Oneonta, Leggett shouldered the loss, surrendering just one run on two hits over 5.0 innings of relief. She also had four strikeouts, including a big one in the bottom of the six as the Engineers threatened with bases loaded and two outs on the board.

Game one saw RPI erase Oneonta's one-run advantage with a three-run fourth inning. Sophomore Gillian McCarthy (Worthington, OH/Thomas Worthington) led off with a double to center field and after a walk to Bach and a sacrifice bunt by Sara Heller (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) to move the runners over, Falco ripped a shot through the left side to bring home two and take the advantage.

SUNY Oneonta cut the deficit to one in the top of the seventh as Katie Hackenburg's (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) single drove in freshman Tricia Kendziera (Poughquag, NY/Arlington). But Bach, who came on in relief of rookie Charlene Osmanski (Elmhurst, IL/York), ended the Red Dragons' comeback hopes, causing senior Sam Voncina (Derby, NY/Lake Shore) to ground out for the third and final out. 

Falco went 1 for 3 with 2 RBI to lead the Engineers offensively, while senior Felicia Bua (Gilford, NH/Gilford) improved to 8-4 on the season with one run allowed on five hits over 4.0 innings. Bach picked up her first save of the season.

The Red Dragons saw Hackenburg go 2 for 4 at the plate with two runs batted in. Junior Jessica Bartalsky (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz) shouldered the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits in a complete game effort.

The Engineers return the diamond on Wednesday, traveling to Utica for a twinbill against the Pioneers (3:30pm). SUNY Oneonta is back in action on Friday, hosting conference-rival Geneseo in a doubleheader (3pm).