FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sage Knocks Off Skyline Undefeated Mount Saint Mary
TROY, NY – Sage was led by Alexa Silk (Freehold, NY/Greenville) with four hits and a go-ahead three-run homer in a 5-2 and 6-5 sweep over Mount Saint Mary Sunday afternoon. The Knights came into the day undefeated in Skyline Conference play.
Prior to the first pitch, seniors Melissa Estremera (Millbrook, NY/Millbrook), Morgan Dunn (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes), Lindsay Brace (Moriah, NY/Moriah Central), Jennifer Onwe (Tarrytown, NY/Sleepy Hollow), Courtney Laughlin (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes) and Katie Kovage (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls Central) were honored for the commitment to the Sage softball program.
In the top of the first, Mount Saint Mary (16-9, 14-2 Skyline) had runners on the corners with two outs, but Kovage struck out Cindy Connoly to keep the Knights off the board.
After three scoreless innings, Mount Saint Mary went up 2-0 in the top of the fourth when Chelsea Dexter and Taylor Canto scored on RBI singles from Courtney Barbara and Nicolette Moustouka. Sage (20-10, 11-1 Skyline) responded with a leadoff homerun from Dunn over the right field fence to cut the lead to 2-1.
In the top of the fifth, it looked like the Knights were going to extend their lead with runners on second and third with two outs, but Kovage struck out Barbara to keep the Gators within one. Mount Saint Mary had runners on second and third again in the top of the sixth, but Michelle Surdan fouled out to Dunn at third base to end the inning.
Still down 2-1, junior Katy Rimawi (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa) tied the game with a leadoff homer over the left field fence. Following Rimawi's home run, Silk singled and Dunn walked to put runners on first and second. With no outs on the board, Kovage cranked a hit over the center field fence to put Sage up 5-2. Brace came in to pitch relief in the final inning. Together with the Gator defense, the senior kept the Knights off the board in the top of the seventh, and Sage held on for the win.
Kovage (8-2) was credited with the win on five strikeout effort, and Brace picked up her second save on the season. Connoly (7-2) picked up the loss with an impressive 10 strikeouts.
Mount Saint Mary got off to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Shannon Sommer scored on a wild pitch. The Knights added another four runs on RBI's by Surdan and Dexter in the top of the second.
The Gators cut down the lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the second when Kiersten Duncan (Millerton, NY/Taconic Hills) scored on an Allison Ford (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) double to left field. Sage tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third when Silk and Jessica Adams (Nassua, NY/Columbia) scored on RBI's from Adams and Duncan respectively.
In the bottom of the fourth, Silk went yard for a three-run homer to left field to put Sage up 6-5.
On defense, Onwe made three impressive plays in center field to keep Mount Saint Mary off the board over the next three innings. The Gators were able to hold on and win 6-5.
Ford (4-4) was credited with the win on 5.1 innings of work while Victoria Goldbach (5-4) picked up the loss.
Sage was led on offense by Silk (4-6, home run, three RBI's, three runs), Kovage (2-7, home run, three RBI's, run), Rimawi (3-7, home run, two runs, RBI) and Dunn (2-5, home run two runs, RBI).
After today's game, Sage takes over first place in the Skyline with an 11-1 conference record.
The Gators continue conference play on Tue., Apr. 19 at 3:30 p.m. at Robison Field against Yeshiva.