TROY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College travelled to Troy on Tuesday afternoon for a non-conference doubleheader with the RPI Engineers. RPI took the first game, 8-0, but the Gators took the second game, 4-2. With their victory in the nightcap, the Gators snapped RPI's 21-game win streak over Sage, dating back to April 16, 2001. After Tuesday's split, RPI is now 5-7 on the year, while RSC is now 3-8.
RPI took the first game, 8-0 as senior pitcher Erika Holowka (Forked River, NJ/Lacey Township) threw a one-hit shutout and struck out 10 batters. Senior Eric Askins (Tahachapi, CA/Tehachapi) added a two-run homerun in the bottom of the first inning, to help RPI jump out to an early 5-0 lead after one inning of play.
RSC's rookie outfielder Madalyn Ring (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls) broke up the no-hitter with her single to left field in the top of the third inning.
Rookie pitcher Kadence Schluter (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) worked three innings, yielding eight earned runs off of eight hits with a pair of walks and a strikeout. She drops to 0-5. Senior Taylor Dicranian (Bennington, VT/Mt. Anthony Union) worked an inning, allowing just one RPI hit.
In the nightcap, Dicranian had a big outing as she not only picked up the victory in the circle, but was 2-for-3 with three RBI's with a pair of doubles. Senior outfielder Arianna Papas (Castleton, NY/Maple Hill) was also 2-for-3 with an RBI, including what turned out to be the game-winner with a single in the top of the fifth inning.
In the circle, Dicranian (3-1) worked seven innings, scattering seven hits with no earned runs in the game.
RPI's junior Alexis Cooke (Newton, NJ/Kittatinny Regional) took the loss after she yielded four earned runs off five hits with a walk and six strikeouts. She drops to 1-3 in the circle and was spelled by junior Brooke Sroczinski (Raynham, MA/Bishop Feehan) struck out five in her two innings with no hits.
Looking ahead, RSC is scheduled to play next on Wednesday at Skidmore. First pitch of the non-conference DH is set for 3:00 PM.
Notes: The Gators have 12 returnees to this year's roster…Senior left hander/infielder Taylor Dicranian and senior outfielder Arianna Papas headline the dozen…The duo each earned All-Region honors from the NFCA last spring…Dicranian continues her climb in the Gator career record book as she is now ninth in career wins (19), ninth in career appearances (51), 20th in career strikeouts (55), while also 12th in innings pitched (211). Offensively, she is now tied for 10th with her 25 career doubles…Head Coach Erica Li, now in her fourth season, added seven newcomers to the squad.