Troy, NY–The Sage Colleges' softball team hosted the Rams of Farmingdale State College in the Gators' 2016 home opener on Saturday afternoon at Robison Field. The Rams took game one, 5-1 and the Gators took the nightcap, 10-1 in six innings. Sage stands at 10-10 on the year and 5-1 in the Skyline, while FSC is now 6-10 overall and 4-2 in the league.
In the first game, the Rams jumped out to a 4-0 lead as they made the most of their first series of at bats and sent eight batters to the plate. Rookie outfielder Aleysha Midgett (Huntington, NY/Walt Whitman) had a two RBI double in the inning. Sage's Katie Kovage (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls Central) worked out of the jam in the first inning and struck out the final two batters she faced in the inning.
In the top of the fifth inning, senior catcher Meagan Anderson (Patchogue, NY/Patchogue-Medford) went deep with a solo home run to give FSC a 5-0 lead. Sage answered back in the bottom of the inning as rookie Kiersten Duncan (Millerton, NY/Taconic Hills) led off with a double to center and was driven in on an RBI single by junior Katy Rimawi (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa).
Kovage went the distance and took the loss after scattering seven hits with five earned runs and eight strikeouts as she falls to 3-2.
FSC's rookie pitcher Jaxie Collard (Deer Park, NY/Deer Park) earned the complete game win as she allowed just one run off seven hits and fanned three in the action.
In the second game, which featured an 18-minute rain and hail delay, Sage took the momentum from the play stoppage to warm up their bats.
FSC held a 1-0 lead heading to the middle of the third and the Gators took the lead with a two RBI double by Duncan and an RBI single by catcher Courtney Laughlin (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes).
In the fifth, Rimawi had an RBI sacrifice fly to drive in pinch runner sophomore Samantha Dibbell (Hunter, NY/Hunter-Tannersville Central).
Sage wrapped the game with a six-run explosion in the bottom of the sixth as Rimawi had a walk-off three-run home run in the inning to give Sage the 10-1 victory.
For the game, Dunn was 2-4 with a run scored, while Kovage was 2-3 with a run and an RBI. Rimawi was 1-3 with four RBI's and now has two home runs on the season.
Junior pitcher Lindsay Brace (Moriah, NY/Moriah Central) picked up the complete game win (5-4) as she struck out five batters and scattered three hits with one earned run. Brace is now No. 3 all-time on the Gator career strikeout list with her 154 strikeouts. She surpassed Rachel Smith (150) on Saturday, while Kovage is No. 2 in career strikeouts as she has 195.
Sage was slated to host Yeshiva University on Sunday, April 3, but the doubleheader has been postponed. No new date is set for the games.