Patchogue, NY--- The Sage Colleges' softball team travelled to St. Joseph's College (LI) for a Skyline Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon and picked up a split. The Gators took the first game 6-4, but fell in the nightcap, 3-2. The win for the Gators breaks the school's record for most wins in a season as they stand at 19-10 overall, while holding a 7-3 record in the Skyline Conference.
Sage's 19 wins in 2012 surpasses the mark set previously in 1991 and 2002 at 18.
Game # 1 Sage 6-4 SJC
In addition to a team record for wins, Sage's junior pitcher Kelsey Newberg (New Britain, CT/New Britain) became Sage's all-time career strikeout leader on the day after she fanned five and elevated her career total to 151, surpassing the old record of 147 held by Kristin Hazelton.
After trailing 4-2 heading into the last at-bats, Sage rallied and pushed four runs across the plate to take a 6-4 lead and hold on for a win. Among the highlights of the rally were a double by sophomore Chantal Ceragioli (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz) and a triple by triple by rookie Kristin Beikirch (Brockport, NY/Brockport).
For the game, Sage's Beikirch drove in two runs and was 2-4 with a run scored, while Ceragioli was 2-3 with a run scored.
Newberg picked up the win after yielding four earned runs off nine hits with five strikeouts as she elevates her team-leading mark to 10-6. She is now No. 6 all-time in career wins as well as she has 14.
Game # 2 SJC 3-2 Sage
Despite a double and a home run from Beikirch, the Gators dropped a 3-2 decision to the Golden Eagles.
She now has a team-best 44 hits and is just six off becoming the single-season hit leader. She is third all-time now and should challenge the mark set in 1999 by Melissa Roy (49). She also is the team's co-leader for home runs this season with six and shares the record now with three others, including 2012 team mate, junior pitcher Rachel Smith (Valatie, NY/Ichabod Crane).
Smith took the loss after Sage tied the action in the top of the sixth, but fell victim to a lead off-double by Reda and gave up the run on an RBI on sacrifice fly by A. Seiber.
Smith drops to 9-4 after yielding three earned runs off seven hits with a pair of strikeouts.
The Gators return to action on Sunday, April 15 travelling to NYU-Poly for a 1 p.m. Skyline Conference pair.
