Rochester's bats came alive with eight hits and five runs in a 5-1 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in an elimination game at the Liberty League softball championships at Southside Field.
 
The victory eliminates second-seeded RPI from the field. The Engineers, ranked #4 in the Northeast in this week's regional poll, are 28-11. Rochester boosted its record to 24-21 overall. Rochester has won 14 of its last 18 games. The Yellowjackets are ranked #5 regionally in this week's poll.
 
Rochester gets a rematch against Skidmore College on Saturday at noon. In Friday's first game, Skidmore defeated Rochester, 5-0, behind a four-hitter from Amanda Carilli. If Rochester wins the noon game, the same two teams will play again, 30 minutes later to determine the league champion and the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
 
Elizabeth Bourne pitched a complete game six hitter for Rochester. It was her fourth straight win. Bourne did not walk anyone, struck out two, and allowed one earned run. She is 5-1.
 
Victoria Hepworth took the loss for RPI. In four innings, she allowed six hits, four runs (two were earned), walked one, and struck out one. She was replaced by Stephanie Caudle for the last two innings. Caudle allowed two hits, one unearned run, walked one, and fanned two. She earned a complete game victory over RIT just two hours earlier.
 
Devan Puhl had two hits for RPI. For Rochester, Kayla Kibling, Harleigh Kaczegowicz, and Rachael Pletz each had two hits. Pletz doubled in a scoreless first, then hit her second home run of the season in the third – a solo shot to left that increased Rochester's lead to 4-1.
 

RIT scored a run in the first. Morgan Kollmeier and Devan Puhl singled. After a flyout, Caudle was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Courtney McArthur flied out to right, driving home Kollmeier.
 
The Engineers put six people aboard over the next four innings, but couldn't get the necessary hit. Bourne found a comfortable groove later in the game. After Taylor TenEyck singled and advanced to second on a misplay, Bourne hit Caudle for the second time, putting runners on first and second. She retired the last eight hitters in order to complete the win.
 
In the fourth, she had a big defensive play from centerfielder Laurelle Byrne-Cody. With one out and Morgan TenEyck on first via a single, Danielle Balestrini drove the ball to the right centerfield gap. Byrne-Cody chased and dove, catching the ball in the webbing of her glove just before she crashed into the fence. She held the glove aloft to show the ball nestled safely. RPI loaded the bases after that on a hit and a Rochester error. Bourne struck out Kollmeier swinging  to end the threat.
 
Rochester broke through against Hepworth in the second. Gianni Melillo walked and Byrne-Cody ran for her. She was bunted to second. Pinch-hitter Lauren Muni singled to left, scoring Byrne-Cody to tie it. Muni advanced to second on the throw home and when that went awry, she moved to third. She scored on Kibling's hard grounder under the glove of Morgan TenEyck at first. The Pletz HR made it 4-1 through three.
 
Caudle relieved to start the fifth and induced two foul popups. Bourne walked . Melillo followed with a single to left that was misplayed to the wall as Bourne scored the final run.