Clermont, FL---- The Sage Colleges softball team opened the 2011 campaign on Monday with a pair of non-conference games at the National Training Center. The Gators fell 11-2 to Penn State University-Behrend in the first contest on the day and then fell 15-13 in a nine-inning marathon to Case Western Reserve University. Sage is 0-2 on the young season.

Game # 1

PSU-Behrend 11-2 Sage (6 Innings)

Team                            1 2 3 4 5 6    R H E

Sage Gators                  0 0 1 1 0 0   2 4 0

Penn St.-Behrend          0 7 1 0 0 3 11 8 1

Sage Pitching              IP H R ER BB SO

Rachel Smith (0-1)        3.0 6 8 3 5 2

Gabriela Skillen             2.2 2 3 2 0 3

Penn St.-Behrend Pitching      IP H R ER BB SO

Julie Heinl (1-0)                          6.0 4 2 2 4 4

Sage's freshman infielder Hillary Faas (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia) connected for a solo homerun in her collegiate debut, while sophomore Emily Host (Gorham, NH/Gorham) had a double for the Gators.

Junior Rachel Smith (Valatie, NY/Ichabod Crane) took the loss after working three innings as the starter with five walks and a pair of strikeouts. Sophomore Gabriella Skillen (Milford, NY/Milford Central) worked struck out three in relief for the Gators.

PSU-Behrend's Kelsey Fuller went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and sophomore Jenna Yourish (Gibsonia, PA/Deer Lakes) knocked in three against Sage. Junior Ashley Gruber (Burton, OH/Berkshire) connected on a homerun and drove in two runs for the Lions. Sophomore pitcher Julie Heinl (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) collected the win after fanning four with two earned runs.

Game #2

Case Western Reserve University 15-13 Sage (9 Innings)

                                                  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E

Case Western Reserve              1 3 2 3 0 1 1 0 4   15 16 0

Sage Gators                               0 3 6 2 0 0 0 0 2   13 11 1

For the Gators, junior Ashley Eberle (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem) drove in four runs and was 3-5 at the plate. Faas was also 3-5 and drove in three runs with a stolen base and a double. Host was 2-6 with two runs scores scored, and two RBIs.

In game two, Case rallied with runs in the sixth and seventh to tie the score at 11. Both teams went scoreless in the eighth before the Spartans scored four in the ninth. Freshman Katherine Seo (Salt Lake City, UT/Olympus) got the win on the mound and was 2-for-5 at the plate. Senior Anneliese Fetterman (Cupertino, MA/Monta Vista) was 3-for-4 with four runs batted-in, including two on a double in the ninth. Lein was 2-for-5 and senior Beth Andrasik (Sagamore Hills, OH/Nordonia) collected three hits in four at-bats.

Sophomore pitcher Kelsey Newberg (New Britain, CT/New Britain) worked the complete game for the Gators. She yielded 13 earned runs off 16 hits with 11 walks and a strikeout. She drops to 0-1 on the young season.

Sage Pitching              IP H R ER BB SO

Kelsey Newberg (0-1)  9.0 16 13 13 11 1

Case Western Reserve Pitching IP  H R ER BB SO

Mary Kruszka                                1.1 2 2  2    3  0
Mackanzie Lein                             0.2 2 5 5     4  0
Katherine Seo (1-1)                      7.0 7 2 0     6  0

The Gators will be in action on Wednesday, March 9 in Florida with another pair of non-conference games. Sage will face Lesley University and Elizabethtown College at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., respectively.