CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. – Russell Sage College began a busy week by splitting this afternoon's doubleheader vs. Elmira. The Gators, commencing a stretch of three twin-bills in four-days, won the Empire 8 Conference game 8-4 and fell in the non-conference contest 14-13 (eight innings).
RSC started quickly in the opener, scoring three runs in the first inning. Senior left hander/infielder Taylor Dicranian (Bennington, VT/Mt. Anthony Union) (above) and junior right-hander/infielder Makayla Lindsey (New Fairfield, CT/New Fairfield) laced RBI doubles.
After Elmira (11-14/3-9 E8) took the lead with four fourth-inning runs, the Gators answered with three runs in the bottom half of the frame. Dicranian and Lindsey again scored teammates with doubles.
Senior outfielder Arianna Papas (Castleton, NY/Maple Hill), the conference leader in hitting, added to the RSC lead with a solo homer in the fifth. Dicranian closed the scoring in the sixth with a solo homer.
Dicranian went 3-for-4 with four RBI and three runs scored, while Papas was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Lindsey, junior infielder Katelyn Rice (Albany, NY/Colonie Central), and junior outfielder Lauren Salmonese (Poughkeepsie, NY/Poughkeepsie) also registered multiple hits in the E8 victory.
RSC erased an 8-0 deficit before dropping the nightcap. Elmira looked to soar away and hide, batting around in each of its first two times at-bat to take the 8-0 advantage.
After Lindsey blasted a three-run homer in the second to get RSC on the board, the Gators took the lead with a seven-run third. Dicranian cleared the fence for three of the tallies, while freshman outfielder Madalyn Ring (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls), Papas, and sophomore catcher Amelia Wasilko (Poughkeepsie, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) singled in fellow Gators.
Trailing 12-11 in the seventh, Papas doubled home Salmonese to extend the game. In the top of the eighth, junior outfielder Amelia Martin hit a two-run homer. RSC could only manage one run in the bottom half.
Rice went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Dicranian was 3-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored. Lindsey went 2-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored, while Papas went 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored.
The quartet stood out across the twin-bill. Papas went 5-for-6 with three runs scored and three RBI. Dicranian was 6-for-9 with six runs scored and seven RBI. Rice also went 6-for-9 with two runs scored and two RBI, while Lindsey was 4-for-8 with six RBI and two runs scored.
Martin and junior pitcher Jillian Cortez paced the Soaring Eagles on the day. Martin finished the doubleheader 3-for-10 with three RBI, while Cortez went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
The Gators (12-18/5-5 E8) are slated to host Keuka tomorrow afternoon. The E8 doubleheader, also to be held at Clifton Commons, is set to begin at 2:30 pm.
Notes: Papas began the week as the E8 batting leader…She also ranked in the top-five on the circuit in slugging percentage, on-base percentage, ops, runs scored, doubles and triples… Dicranian sat atop the E8 with 14 doubles.
Gator Golf Classic: The 17th annual Gator Golf Classic will be held on June 3rd at Colonie Country Club. Registration for the event is now open at: alumni.sage.edu/gatorgolf2022
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