Elmira, NY – Sage's softball team travelled to Elmira College for a pair of Empire 8 contests on Friday. Sage took game one, 6-3 and the Soaring Eagles took the night cap, 6-3. Sage is now 9-12 overall and 3-7 in the Empire 8. Elmira is now 7-12 overall and 2-9 in the league.
Game # 1 Sage 6-3 Elmira
Sage's softball team jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three runs to open the game and cruise to the 6-3 win. The Gators connected for 10 hits in the action. Leading the way for the team was senior Alexa Silk (Freehold, NY/Greenville) as she was 2-4 with a pair of runs scored with stolen base. Sophomore Amanda Kiriakos (Yonkers, NY/Saunders Trade & Technical) added a double with two RBI's and was 2-4 at the plate with a run scored. Sage's graduate player Katy Rimawi (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa) also had a double with a 2-4 effort at the plate and a run scored for help Sage to the key league victory.
In the circle, Sage's senior pitcher Amy Hart (St. Johnsville, NY/Little Falls) picked up the win to stand at 6-7 as she struck out five, while allowing only three earned runs off nine hits.
Game # 2 Elmira 6-3 Sage
In a see saw battle, Elmira jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second run. Sage took a 3-2 lead in the top of the third as sophomore Destiny Wierzbicki (Albany, NY/Troy) had an three RBI double to give Sage a lead.
Elmira answered right back in the bottom half of the third taking a 4-3 lead as the Soaring Eagles collected two runs off a pair of hits and made the most of a pair of Sage errors.
Sage was unable to push any more runs across the plate and dropped the nightcap, 6-3. Wierzbicki finished with a 1-3 effort batting with a double and three RBI's to lead the Gators. Alexa Silk was 1 for 4 with a run scored and another stolen base. Rimawi scored a run and was 1-2 at the plate for the Gators.
For the Gators, rookie Katerina Lagace (Newington, CT/Newington) took the loss dropping to 3-5 on the year after allowing three earned runs off nine hits with no walks and a pair of strikeouts.
After Friday's games, a number of Sage's veteran performers are continuing their assault on the program's career records. Alexa Silk now has 182 career hits, putting her third, while Rimawi has 146 career hits and is sixth. Silk has 434 career at bats and is fourth, while Rimawi has 428 at bats and is right behind her in fifth. Rimawi has 38 career doubles and is third, just seven away from the career record of 44 doubles set by Hillary Faas. Silk is closing in on the all-time career stolen base record currently held by Kristen Beikirch (65) as she added two on Friday and now boasts 64 career stolen bases in her four seasons at Sage.
Hart is currently 12th in career appearances with 42, while standing 11th in 231 career innings pitched. She boasts 30 career complete games (8th), while adding 19 wins which ranks eighth best. Hart has 219 career strikeouts and is closing in on the No. 2 spot currently co-held by Lindsay Brace and Katie Kovage with 222.
Sage is back in action on Saturday, April 28 at 1 and 3 p.m. in an Empire 8 doubleheader at Utica College.