TROY, N.Y. - Nina Korn drove in four runs and Eleni Wechsler spun a three-hitter as the University of Rochester defeated RPI, 8-0, to clinch the Liberty League softball championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Wechsler also helped herself with the bat, driving in three runs.

It was Rochester's second 8-0 victory on Saturday. Both games were shortened to five innings due to the mercy rule. The Yellowjackets posted an 8-0 win in Saturday's first must-win game. Brittany Grage threw the first perfect game in school history in that one.

Rochester boosted its record to 26-11 overall. The Yellowjackets entered the Liberty League championships as the top-ranked team in the Northeast Region of the NCAA. They lost their Liberty League opener, 6-4, to Union College on Thursday afternoon when the Dutchwomen rallied for six runs in the last two at-bats.

That loss in the double elimination tournament meant Rochester had to win four straight. The Yellowjackets did it, beating Skidmore, 13-2, in Friday's first game (a nine-run first inning was the key) and then topping Union, 5-0, in the second game on Friday.RPI advanced into Saturday's championship round with a 6-0 win over Skidmore on Thursday and a 6-5 victory over Union in Friday's first game. RPI scored three times, all unearned, in the bottom of the seventh to pull out the win over Union.

Rochester jumped in front, 4-0, in the first inning against RPI's Kristina Weltzin. Tayler Fravel doubled. Meg Hennessy's bunt was thrown away, putting her on first and Fravel on third. Korn homered over the right-center field fence. After Wechsler and Lauren Muni were put out, Grage walked and was doubled home by Alyssa Murillo.

Victoria Hepworth relieved to start the second inning against Rochester. Fravel lined out. Hennessy bunted for a base hit. Korn doubled, and Wechsler singled. In the fourth, Korn drew a one-out walk and Wechsler followed with a two-run home run over the right-center field fence.

Wechsler ran into trouble just once. In the bottom of the third (with UR ahead, 6-0), the Engineers made a bid to get back in it. Courtney McArthur drew a leadoff walk. Kathleen Baker struck out. Morgan Kollmeier's grounder was booted, putting runners at first and second. Danielle Balestrini singled to load the bases. Wechsler induced Tori Hunt to fly out to center, too shallow for McArthur to try and score. She ended the inning by catching a pop up by Jena Servidone.

The NCAA DIvision III Softball Committee will announce its selections and first round sites on Monday at the NCAA website, at 10 a.m. This year, the committee is using a new format of four-team pods rather than the previous groupings of either six or eight teams. The 'pod' winners will advance to Super Regionals (patterned after the Division I tournament) the following week.

All-Tournament Team Selections:
Most Outstanding Player - Nina Korn.
Rochester - Shelby Corning, Tayler Fravel, Meg Hennessy, Eleni Wechsler, Brittany Grage, Nina Korn.
RPI - Kristina Weltzin, Taylor Ten Eyck
Union - Allyson Staats