Brooklyn, NY--- The Rams of Farmingdale State College came from the losers' bracket and forced a game-seven for the 2012 Skyline Conference Softball Championship as they faced Sage for the fifth time this month. FSC topped Sage in the first game of the day, 6-5 to force the championship rematch and tallied an 8-0 win to collect the program's third Skyline Championship and second straight crown.
The championship crown gave FSC the league's automatic bid to the 2012 NCAA Division III Championships. For the Gators, that exceeded all expectations after being tapped sixth in the league's pre-season poll, they stand at 26-15 and are awaiting a possible bid to the Eastern College Athletic Conference Tournament when the pairings are announced on May 7. The Rams improve to 26-13 on the year and will continue their season with a spot in the upcoming NCAA Regional Tournament.
Sage's head coach Jamie Brown said of the day and the Gators' tournament run, "I believe we shocked the world with the turn around we had this season." Brown added, "No one thought for a second we could make it to the playoffs, let alone the championship game. This team is all heart and they gave it everything they had. I could not be prouder of them and so grateful I am their coach."
In the first game, the Rams struck first with a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Sage overtook FSC in the fourth inning as senior Meghan Welcome (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes) collected a two-run home run and aided by a pair of RBIs from junior pitcher Kelsey Newberg (New Britain, CT/New Britain) and sophomore short stop Hillary Faas (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia) in the same inning as Sage racked up four runs off six hits in their at bats.
In the fifth inning, FSC chipped away at Sage's lead and pulled within one run, trailing 4-3 after a two RBI double by senior Rebecca Richman (West Islip, NY/West Islip). The Rams overtook Sage's lead in the sixth inning as senior Kaitlin Keenan (West Islip, NY/West Islip) had an RBI single and freshman Michelle Mongiello (Elmont, NY/Sewanhaka) had an RBI double. By inning's end, FSC led 5-4.
Faas tied the game with one swing of the bat as she belted her fourth homer of the year, a solo shot that knotted play at 5-5.
In the bottom of the Rams threatened and the Gators were able to throw one runner out at the plate to prevent a game-winning play. Moments later, the Rams were able to capitalize on a Sage miscue and score the Richman scored the game-winning run on a passed ball, taking the action, 6-5 and forcing the game seven.
In the contest, Faas was 2-4 with two RBI's, while Gator rookie Karlie Williams (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) was also 2-4. Welcome was 1-4 with her first home run of the season in the action for Sage. FSC's Richman drove in a pair of runs and was 2-4 with a pair of doubles. Mongiello also had a pair of doubles for the Rams.
Newberg worked 5.1 innings for the Gators with five earned runs in the game off 11 hits. Junior Rachel Smith (Valatie, NY/Ichabod Crane) came in from left field and worked the last inning and a plus for the Gators, but took the loss after the team allowed one unearned run. She drops to 11-7.
FSC's rookie pitcher Chelsea LaMarca (Ronkonkoma, NY/Connetquot) got the win in relief as she worked 3.1 innings with one earned run in the circle.
In the final game of the Skyline Conference Championship series, FSC was able to push seven runs across the plate in the top of the third inning as tallied eight hits in the inning and knocked Smith from the starting role after she yielded three unearned runs off seven hits. Sophomore infielder Hillary Genova (Brentwood, NY/Brentwood) drove in a pair of runs in the innings. Mongiello had a 3-4 effort in the nightcap and drove in a run as well for the Rams.
Sage was limited to one hit as Smith broke up the no-hit bid by Taylor Tedschi (Levittown, NY/Island Trees) as she singled in her first at bat and the Gators were held in check the rest of the way. She fanned four en route to the championship win. She earned tournament MVP honors for her performance. Smith took the loss and drops to 11-8, while Newberg also worked for Sage and gave up just one earned run off four hits in her time in the circle for the Gators.
