BRONXVILLE, N.Y. – Morgan Dunn (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes) went 5-8 with two homeruns as the Gators swept Sarah Lawrence on the road with 9-1 and 14-5 wins in their Skyline Opener.
In game one, Dunn got the Gators off to an early 3-0 in the top of the first when the senior cranked a three-run homer to hit Allison Ford (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) and Katy Rimawi (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa) across the plate.
With two outs in the bottom of the first, the Gryphons had runners on the corners with two outs, but Sage's (5-7, 2-0 Skyline) Katie Kovage (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls Central) struck out Baylie Petit to keep Sarah Lawrence (2-8, 0-2 Skyline) off the board.
Rimawi kept the homerun party going in the top of the top of the second with a solo shot to right center to put Sage up 4-0.
Kovage continued with a strong second inning with a groundout and two strikeouts going into the third.
The Gryphons ended Kovage's shutout in the bottom of the third when Riley Vuyovich scored on a Petit single down the left field line with one out on the board. The Gators defense held strong with the bases loaded twice to keep Sarah Lawrence from tacking on any more runs.
Dunn responded to the Gryphons run in the top of the fourth when she singled up the middle and put Sage up 5-1.
The Gators continued to add runs when Jessica Adams (Nassau, NY/Columbia) scored in the top of the fifth off a Courtney Laughlin (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes) RBI, and Rimawi scored on a Dunn double in the top of the sixth.
Sage plated two more runs in the final inning off Laughlin and Rimawi RBI singles to win 9-1.
The Gators were led on offense by Dunn (4-4, homerun, five RBI's, one run), Rimawi (4-5, homerun, four runs, two RBI's) and Laughlin (1-4, two RBI's, one run) while Sarah Lawrence was led by Petit (1-3, one RBI) and Vuyovich (1-4, one run).
Kovage (1-0) picked up the win for the Gators with five strikeouts in her 2016 debut. Sarah Lawrence's Mikayla Cunningham (0-5) was credited with the loss with four strikeouts.
In the night cap, Ford scored the first run for the Gators off a Gryphon error. Dunn followed with a solo homerun to centerfield to put Sage up 2-0. Laughlin and Adams added two more runs for Sage off a Kiersten Duncan (Milerton, NY/Taconic Hills) double to go up 4-0 entering the bottom of the first.
With runners on the corners in the bottom of the second, Sage's Lindsay Brace (Moriah, NY/Moriah Central) struck out Isabel Lamont to keep Sarah Lawrence off the board.
In the top of the third, Sage went up 6-0 when Dunn stole home and Adams scored on a Jenn Onwe (Tarrytown, NY/Sleepy Hollow) single.
Sarah Lawrence ended Brace's shutout in the bottom of the third when Taryn Penna scored off a Kamaron McNair single.
Sage went up 9-1 in the top of the fifth off Onwe, Duncan and Ford RBI's, but Sarah Lawrence extended the game when McNair scored on a pass ball in the bottom of the fifth.
Adams extended Sage's lead to 10-2 off a Laughlin single, but Sarah Lawrence's McNair hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to bring the score to 10-5 and force a seventh inning.
Aanisah Taylor (Great Barrington, MA/Monument Mountain Regional) scored on a Sarah Lawrence error before Adams hit a three-run homer to left field to put Sage up 14-5 in the top of the seventh. Brace and the Gator defense retired the side in the bottom of the seventh to ensure the 14-5 victory.
Sage was led on offense by Laughlin (4-4, two runs, one RBI), Adams (2-4, one homerun, five runs, three RBI's), Duncan (1-5, three RBI's) and Dunn (1-4, one homerun, three runs, one RBI) while the Gryphons were led by McNair (2-3, one homerun, four RBI's, two runs) and Penna (2-4, two runs).
Brace (2-4) was credited with the win with five strikeouts while McNair picked up the loss for Sarah Lawrence.
Sage is currently tied for first in the Skyline with Purchase and Mt. St. Mary with a 2-0 conference record. The Gators continue their Skyline weekend tomorrow at St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) with a doubleheader at 10 a.m. and noon.
