Staten Island, NY – The Sage Colleges' softball team faced NYU-Poly on Saturday in a pair of Skyline Conference games, played on the campus of Wagner College. Sage took the first game 11-6, but fell in the nightcap, 6-5. The Gators are now 20-11 overall and 9-4 in the Skyline Conference.
In the first game, rookie outfielder Frankie Pearson (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls Central) connected for two doubles, a triple and drove in two runs with two runs scored and was 3-4 at the plate. Junior Kristen Beikirch (Brockport, NY/Brockport) was 4-5 with two runs scored, two RBI's and another stolen base. She leads the team with her 13 doubles this year, while owning Sage's career stolen base record that has now grown to 51 as she is a perfect 18-18 this year.
Sophomore pitcher Katie Kovage (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls Central) had another strong effort both at the plate and in the circle. She was 2-5 with two RBI's and also picked up the win after fanning seven batters. She stands at 11-6 on the year with 71 K's.
In the second game, Kovage connected for fourth home run of the season, but it was not enough as the Gators dropped the game, 6-5.
Sage's senior Hillary Faas (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia) was 2-4 at the plate with an RBI and a double, her 11th of the season. Rookie Jess Adams (Nassau, NY/Columbia) added a double and was 2-4 with an RBI for the Gators.
Rookie pitcher Erika Daigle (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) suffered the loss to fall to 8-5 on the season. She scattered 11 hits, allowing six earned runs, while striking out four. She has racked up 120 strikeouts this season and broke Sage's single-season strikeout mark on Saturday. She passed the record set in 2012 by Kelsey Newberg (119).
Sage is back in action on Tuesday, April 22 hosting Mt. St. Mary College in a single game which was halted due to darkness. The game was tied at 4-4 through five innings and will be picked up where it left off and completed. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. as the winner will garner the top seed for the 2014 Skyline Conference Tournament, which will take place April 25-27. The Skyline Conference champion will receive the league's automatic bid to the 2014 NCAA Division III Tournament.
