WINTER HAVEN, Fla. –  On the second day of its Florida trip, Russell Sage College split a pair of contests.

The Gators came back to edge Wheaton 2-1 in the opener.

RSC scored both of its runs in the fourth. Freshman infielder Amber Banas (Saugerties, NY/Saugerties) and sophomore outfielder Madalyn Ring (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls) laced RBI singles during the rally.

Freshman pitcher Leah Madore (Williamsville, VT/Brattleboro Union) made the runs stand up, tossing a complete game five-hitter, while outfielder Arianna Papas (Castleton, NY/Maple Hill), a graduate student, went 3-for-4 at the plate.

The Gators had their comeback attempt fall short against Allegheny in the nightcap.

Trailing 7-0 after 4.5 innings, RSC put across three runs in the fifth, another in the sixth, and two in the seventh, of the 8-6 setback.

Banas and Papas keyed the late-inning rallies.  Banas hit a two-run homer, while Papas knocked in four runs, including three on a fifth-inning double.

Papas, the reigning Empire 8 Conference Player of the Year, went 1-for-2 in the second game to finish 4-for-6 on the day.

Sophomore designated player Sophia Godzak went 3-for-4 to pace Allegheny (2-0), which scored six of its runs during the third inning.

Looking ahead, the Gators (2-2) are slated to face Concordia - Moorhead and Bluffton on Sunday.

Notes: RSC is looking to qualify for the Empire 8 Conference Championship Tournament for the third-straight spring…14 returnees combined with four newcomers to comprise this year's squad…Outfielder Arianna Papas (Castleton, NY/Maple Hill), a graduate student, the 2022 E8 Conference Player of the Year, and pitcher/infielder Taylor Dicranian (Bennington, VT/Mt. Anthony Union), a graduate student, and senior infielder Katelyn Rice (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) headlined the group of returning Gators…The trio each earned All-E8 honors last spring…Papas and Dicranian both have garnered NFCA All-Region accolades for the past two seasons…Sophomore catcher Serina Garmendiz (Hempstead, NC/Pine Bush), Papas, and Rice were voted co-captains.

Save the Date: The 18th Annual Gator Golf Classic will be held on Friday, June 2 at Colonie Golf and Country Club.

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