Clifton Park, NY. – Russell Sage College started Empire 8 Conference play by splitting this afternoon's doubleheader against the Highlanders of Houghton College. The Gators took the first game, 6-2, while Houghton took the nightcap, 13-9. The Gators move to 4-11 overall and 1-1 in the Empire 8, while Houghton is now 12-9 overall and also 1-1 in the conference.
Houghton jumped to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first before the Gators tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Sage tacked on a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth and sixth innings as they combined for 10 hits in the game.
For the Gators, senior outfielder Arianna Papas (Castleton, NY/Maple Hill) was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI's, and a run scored. Graduate performer Emily Agate (Franklin Square, NH/H. Frank Carey) also drove in a pair of runs and 3-for-3 with a double. Sophomore outfielder Isabella Vano (Yorktown Heights, NY/Yorktown) was 1-for-2 with two runs scored for the Gators.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, junior Katelyn Rice (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) had an RBI single to right center to break the 2-2 tie, before junior Erika Markwoski (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) had a sacrifice bunt to drive in the next run for the Gators.
Senior Taylor Dicranian (Bennington, VT/Mt. Anthony Union) worked a complete game in earning the win as she allowed just one earned run off eight hits with a walk and a strikeout in the game, moving to 4-1.
In the night cap, the Highlanders and the Gators combined for 22 runs and 30 hits before Houghton took the lead for good with four runs in the top of the fourth.
Agate was 4-for-5 at the plate with five RBI's, a pair of runs scored and a home run. She belted a three run shot in the bottom of the second inning to give the Gators a 4-3 lead.
Houghton answered with a single run in the top of the third and four in the top of the fourth to take the lead for good.
For the game, Papas was 3-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Dicranian was 1-for-5 with two runs scored. Junior Makayla Lindsey (New Fairfield, CT/New Fairfield) drove in a pair of runs and was 1-for-4.
Rookie pitcher Kadence Schluter (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) worked a third of an inning, allowing four earned runs with three hits and suffered the loss. Dicranian threw 6.2 innings with eight earned runs off 17 hits.
Looking ahead, the Gators are slated to play next on Wednesday, April 5 at SUNY Cobleskill. The non-conference doubleheader is set to begin at 3:00 PM.
Notes: Senior left hander/infielder Taylor Dicranian was named the Empire 8 Conference Player of the Week on Monday. She hit .300 with three doubles and three RBI last week. The senior did not allow an earned run across 15.0 innings in the circle. Dicranian continues her climb in the Gator career record book as she is now eighth in career appearances (55), 19th in career strikeouts (56), while also ranking 12th in innings pitched (231.2) and seventh with her 20 career win . Offensively, she is now 10th with her 27 career doubles…Emily Agate moves to a tie for ninth with her 75 career RBI's.