CLERMONT, Fla. – On their last day in Florida, Gator softball dropped a pair of games to RPI 8-0 and RIT 10-2, both in six innings.
In the first game with RPI (3-0), Stephanie Caudle and Morgan Kollmeier scored on a Cam Caswell single to right center to plate two unearned runs in the top of the first.
In the bottom of the second, Jessica Adams (Nassau, NY/Columbia) hit a lead-off double to left center for Sage's (1-9) first hit of the game. The senior stole third with one out on the board, but a strikeout and a fly out left Adams stranded.
RPI scored a third run in the top of the fourth when Christine White scored on a wild pitch. In the bottom of the inning, Sage loaded the bases with Katy Rimawi (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa), Kiersten Duncan (Millerton, NY/Taconic Hills) and Kristen Silk (Freehold, NY/Greenville) with one out on the board, but RPI pitcher Sarah Harms got out of the pinch with a pop-up and a strikeout.
In the top of the fifth, Caswell was on third with two outs, but Sage's Amy Hart (St. Johnsville, NY/Little Falls) struck out the next batter to end the inning 3-0 in favor of the Engineers.
After holding off Sage in the bottom of the fifth, Allie Hunt scored on a Chelsea Elliott walk followed by runs by Rebecca Kienz and Victoria Greco runs on a Devan Puhl single through the left side to put RPI up 6-0. Two batters later, Kollmeier scored on a wild pitch. The Engineers added their eighth run the next at bat when Puhl scored on a C McArthur single through the left side.
Harms (2-0) went the distance in the win with four strikeouts while Hart (0-6) picked up the loss with a season-high seven strikeouts.
Sage was led at the plate by Allison Ford (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) with two hits while RPI was led by Greco (2-3, run), Kollmeier (1-3, two runs), Caswell (1-3, two RBI's) and Puhl (1-4, two RBI's, run).
In the second game against RIT (4-1), Alexandria Lunderman and Sam Killian put the Tigers up 2-0 on a two-out Lazarus single to right field in the bottom of the first. At the next at bat, Olivia Doret singled to second base and brought Killian home to go up by three. After a Sarah Thayer single loaded the bases, Alexa Farner hit an in-the-park grand slam to right field to put RIT up 7-0 going into the second inning.
In the top of the second inning, Alexa Silk (Freehold, NY/Greenville) stole home to cut RIT's lead down to 7-1. Kristen Silk made her way to third on two stolen bases, but RIT pitcher Sierra Valentine came up with a strikeout to end the inning.
The Tigers loaded the bases in the bottom of the second, but Hart forced a pop-up to third to end the inning.
After three scoreless innings, Rimawi scored on an Alexa Silk single through the right side to cut down RIT's lead to 7-2. With two outs on the board, Silk made her way to third on a stolen base and a wild pitch, but Valentine came up with her seventh strikeout of the game.
RIT extended its lead in the bottom of the sixth when Erin Guinan scored on a Lunderman single to center field. Danielle Hotz added the Tigers' ninth run on a throwing error followed by a Lunderman run on a wild pitch to force a mercy-rule end to the game.
Valentine (1-1) got the complete game win on a seven strikeout, two hit game while Ford (1-3) picked up the loss.
Alexa Silk (1-2, RBI, run) led Sage at the plate while RIT was paced by Farner (1-3, 4 RBI's, run, home run), Lunderman (2-3, two runs, RBI), Lazarus (1-2, two RBI, run) and Hotz (2-2, run).
