LEESBURGH, FL – Senior Jessica Adams (Nassau, NY/Columbia) hit a two-run homer over the left field fence to put Sage over Muhlenberg 9-8 in the Gators' first win of 2017.
After a scoreless first inning, Muhlenberg (1-3) went up 1-0 when Sarah Siciari scored on an Amelia Shelley single through the left side. The Mules added another run when Paige Seltz scored on a wild pitch.
In the bottom of the second, Adams scored when Destiny Wierzibicki (Albany, NY/Troy) singled through the right side. The Gators then took the lead when an Alexa Silk (Freehold, NY/Greenville) double hit home Wiersibicki and Kiersten Duncan (Millerton, NY/Taconic Hills). Sage (1-1) extended its lead when Alexa Silk and Kristen Silk (Freehold, NY/Greenville) scored on an Allison Ford (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) single up the middle. Ford then scored on a Katy Rimawi (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa) triple to put the Gators up 6-2 at the end of the second inning.
The Mules had the bases loaded with two outs in the top of the third, but pitcher Amy Hart (St. Johnsville, NY/Little Falls) forced Siciari to fly out to left field to keep the inning scoreless. Muhlenberg pitcher Nicole Bergamo responded with three straight strikeouts to keep the score 6-2.
In the top of the fourth, Muhlenberg scored two runs on a pass ball to cut Sage's lead down to 6-4. The Gators answered in the bottom of the inning by loading the bases, but the three runners were left stranded on a ground out to the shortstop.
After four complete innings pitched, Hart was replaced in the circle by Ford. The senior only faced three batters in the fifth inning thanks to heroics of Kristen Silk in centerfielder. The freshman made an impressive diving catch as well as a heads up play on a shallow hit to the outfield.
In the top of the sixth, Muhlenberg scored three unearned runs on Sarah Merio and Allyson Sweeney RBI's to take a 7-6 lead. With two outs on the board in the bottom of the inning, Alexa Silk hit a solo shot over the left center fence to tie the game 7-7.
In the final inning, Seitz gave the Mules their third lead of the game on a solo homer over the left center field fence. With the Gators down 8-7, Rimawi drew a lead-off walk to put the game-winning run at the plate. Adams capitalized on the moment, and hit a home run over the left field fence to give Sage the 9-8 win.
Sage was led at the plate by Alexa Silk (3-3, three RBI's, two runs, home run, double) Rimawi (2-3, two runs, RBI, triple), Adams (1-3, two RBI's, two runs, home run) and Ford (1-4, two RBI's). Meanwhile, Muhlenberg was led at the plate by Seitz (2-3, three runs, RBI, home run) and Sweeney (2-3, RBI).
Ford (1-0) picked up her first win of the season with two strikeouts while Siciari (0-3) was credited with the loss.
Sage also played Alfred University (2-1) in the morning, but the Gators fell 11-2 in five innings.
An error ridden game set the Gators back early on, giving up nine runs in the first two innings. Sage finally got on the board in the third inning when Alexa Silk scored on Adams single to first base. The Saxons extended their lead to 11-1 in the bottom of the third before the Gators score their second run on a Ford single in the top of the fourth.
The Gators held Alfred scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, but the Saxons kept Sage off the board to end the game in five innings.
Dominique D'Andrea (1-0) was credited with the win with three strikeouts. Alfred's Jillian Murray also added three strikeouts on two innings of work. Hart (0-1) picked up the loss for Sage, but the junior and Ford only combined for three earned runs against.
D'Andrea led the game with three RBI's and two runs on a 2-2 effort with one home run and one double. Murray went 1-2 with two RBI's, two runs and a double.
Sage continues their spring break trip tomorrow as they take on Oneonta State and Mount Ida at 9 a.m. and 11:30 respectively at the Minneola Athletic Complex.