Old Westbury, NY – The Sage Colleges' softball team travelled to SUNY-Old Westbury for a Skyline Conference doubleheader with the Panthers. The Gators took the first game, 4-1 and captured the nightcap, 5-2. Sage stands at 9-11 overall and 2-2 in the Skyline Conference. SUNY-Old Westbury drops to 9-11 and 1-5 in the league. The Gators are riding a four-game win streak heading into tomorrow's action at Farmingdale State.
In the first game, junior short stop Hillary Faas (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia) connected for her third home run of the season when she belted a two run shot in the third inning to help the Gators as they trailed 1-0. Helping the Gators in the inning was senior Kelsey Newberg (New Britain, CT/New Britain) as she had a two RBI double and gave the Gators a 4-1 lead, a score that would stand up for the game.
Faas was 3-4 at the plate, while sophomore Kristen Beikirch (Brockport, NY/Brockport) was 2-4 and continues to lead Sage with her strong hitting. Faas now has 11 career homeruns, which is No. 3 on the Gator career list. She also has 104 career hits, which ranks No. 7 on the career list as well.
Freshman pitcher Katie Kovage (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls Central) worked the complete game and picked up her third win as she yielded just one unearned run with two walks and two strikeouts.
In the nightcap, Beikirch was on fire with a 3-4 effort at the plate, a double, a home run and two RBIs. She was joined by a strong performance at the plate by graduate performer Rachel Smith (Valatie, NY/Ichabod Crane) who was 2-4 with a double for the Gators.
Newberg went the distance in the circle for Sage as she allowed just two earned runs off three hits and walked three, while fanning another three batters. She stands at 3-5 on the year and leads the Gators with 36 strikeouts and now has extended her active Sage career strikeout mark to 223. Newberg is edging ever closer to another Gator mark as now has 23 career wins and is making a run at the all-time victory mark that stands at 27 and was set by Kim Fredenburgh.
Sage will be back in action on April 7 at Farmingdale State for a noon Skyline Conference doubleheader.
