Kissimmee, FL – The Sage Colleges' softball team was in action on Thursday facing a pair of opponents on the team's Spring Training Trip. The Gators faced off against the NFCA's No. 2 ranked team in Division III, the Montclair State University Red Hawks, but fell 7-0. MSU remains unbeaten this season at 8-0.
Sage took to the field for a second non-conference game and matched up with Transylvania University, but fell 9-1 in five innings.
For the Gators, graduate performer Rachel Smith (Valatie, NY/Ichabod Crane) suffered the loss, but managed to strikeout eight Red Hawks batters in her six innings of work. She scattered seven hits with three earned runs in the action.
Graduate performer, Tiffany Bezio (Whitehall, NY/Whitehall) was 2-3 at the plate, while sophomore Karlie Williams (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) was 2-2 for the Gators as they combined for five hits in the contest.
MSU's Allison Cullen worked 6.2 innings with four hits allowed and struck out six en route to her first win on the season.
Against Transylvania (1-8), the Gators fell behind 4-0 as Smith made her second start of the day for the Gators. She worked 3.2 innings and yielded 9 earned runs with a pair of strikeouts off 10 hits. Freshman pitcher Katie Kovage (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls Central) worked in relief for Sage.
In the top of the fifth inning, sophomore Kristen Beikirch (Brockport, NY/Brockport) scored the lone run of the game as she was driven in with two outs by freshman Lauren Cooney (Wyantskill, NY/Troy) as she had an RBI double to score Beikirch.
The Gators are back in action on Friday on the final day of the Florida trip. Sage will face St. Norbert's College at 1 p.m. and Defiance at 5 p.m.
