Troy, NY – The Sage Colleges' softball team hosted Union College in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday. Sage held a Support the Troops Day in conjunction games and had fans donate new or gently used books that will be donated to U.S. troops serving our country. Several members of the Troy National Guard were on hand and participated in a pre-game ceremony.
Union won the first game 11-7, but Sage took the night cap 6-0. Sage stands at 13-9 overall, while Union is now 8-8 on the year.
In the first game the two teams exchanged leads and were knotted twice before the Dutchwomen broke open the game with a five-run fourth inning. Sophomore designated player Joanna Chalifoux (Islip, NY/St. Anthony's) drove in five RBIs to pace Union and added a 2-5 effort at the plate. Senior pitcher Alyssa Wolejko (South Windsor, CT/East Catholic) was 4-5 at the plate with four runs scored, two RBI's and tacked on a double and a stolen base to help Union to the win. In the circle, she worked the complete game and struck out seven in improving to 5-4. She allowed six earned runs off 14 hits.
For the Gators, Sage's senior short stop Hillary Faas (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia) drove in two RBI's added solo homerun in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game at 3-3.
Sage's sophomore pitcher Katie Kovage (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls Central) also batted and was 4-4 with two RBI's. She worked 3.2 innings and allowed six earned runs off eight hits, while striking out three. She falls to 7-6. Rookie Lindsay Brace (Moriah, NY/Moriah Central) came in and worked 3.1 innings in relief, yielding three earned runs of six hits with four strikeouts.
Sophomore first baseman Courtney Laughlin (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes) was 2-4 with an RBI after collecting a homerun in the Sage half of the fifth inning.
In the second game, Sage struck early as they scored runs in the bottom of the second, third, fourth and fifth inning to put the game away.
Sage's freshman pitcher Erika Daigle (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) picked up the complete game shutout win after she sent down six batters and scattered two hits. She stands at 6-3 on the year and has 85 strikeouts on the 2014 season, which ranks No. 2 all-time in single-season performances.
Offensively Faas was 2-4 with two more RBI's, elevating her team-leading total to 28 this season and adding to her active career mark, which has grown to 113 RBI's. Faas also has 10 doubles this season after collecting an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth. She also holds the Gators career doubles mark, which is now 42.
Junior Kristen Beikirch (Brockport, NY/Brockport) was 1-4 with two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base. She is now 12-12 on the season in stolen bases and is closing in on the career stolen base record (49) as she has 45. She also continues to add to her active career mark that includes 110 runs scored.
Union's Chalifoux connected for the lone two hits in the action, including a double to left center in the top of the seventh inning.
Junior pitcher Allyson Staats (Downers Grove, IL/Benet Academy) took the loss and falls to 3-4. She struck out six, but allowed four earned runs off 11 hits.
Sage returns to Robison Field on April 12 hosting Skyline Conference foe, Farmingdale State College in a 1 p.m. doubleheader. The Gators will honor their seniors that day in conjunction with Senior Day. They are Trish Gaulin (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) and Hillary Faas.