Utica, NY–Russell Sage College's softball team travelled to Utica College on Wednesday for a pair of Empire 8 games. The Gators posted a 14-6 win in six innings in the first game, but needed nine innings in the nightcap to collect a 6-4 win. RSC is now 14-2 overall and in the E8, while Utica drops to 11-11 overall and 6-10 in the conference.
Game #1 Sage 12-6 Utica (6 Innings)
Junior pitcher Taylor Dicranian (Bennington, VT/Mt. Anthony Union) worked a complete game and allowed just six earned runs off nine hits to improve to 11-1. She added two doubles to help her cause as she was also 3/5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
RSC's sophomore Katelyn Rice (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) had a double, and was 2 for 5 with two RBI's for the game as RSC combined for 19 hits. Sophomore Makayla Lindsey (New Fairfield, CT/New Fairfield) was also 2 for 3 with a run scored, three RBI's and added a double. Junior Arianna Papas (Castleton, NY/Maple Hill) was 2 for 5 with two runs scored. Rookie Samantha Larsen (Mount Marion, NY/Saugerties) was 3-4 with two runs scored, two RBI's, while sophomore Erika Markowski (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) had a double to go with her3/4 performance that included an RBI and two runs scored.
Sophomore Lauren Salmonese (Poughkeepsie, NY/Pougkeepsie) had a pair of stolen bases and was 2/4with an RBI and two runs scored as well.
Game # 2 RSC 6-4 Utica (9 innings)
RSC jumped out to 3-0 lead through three innings before Utica added two runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth and took a 4-3 lead through six innings.
In the top of the seventh with one out, freshman Isabella Vano (Yorktown Heights, NY/Yorktown) drew a walk off Jessica Conte. Rice flew out for the second out before Papas had a double to left field sending Vano to third base. Dicranian singled to left field to drive in Vano and tie the action.
The two teams played a scoreless eighth inning before the Gators tacked on two runs in the top of the ninth as Salmonese led off with a single to centerfield off Conte. Rice doubled to left center and drove in Salmonese. Rice advanced to third on a passed ball before senior Emily Agate (Franklin Square, NY/H. Frank Carey) had a single to short to drive in Rice and spot RSC to a 6-4 lead as they shut down the Pioneers in the bottom half of the inning.
For the game, Papas was 4/5 with three doubles and an RBI. Lindsey was 1/5 with a solo homerun, while Rice was 2/5 with 2 runs scored, a double and an RBI.
Lindsey made the start working 4.1 innings with two earned runs off four hits with two walks. Dicranian worked 4.2 innings and collected the win after she scatted four hits allowing no runs with three strikeouts and two walks. She improved to 12-1 after the game.
On the season, Papas has a team-leading .569 batting average with 37 hits, while Dicranian has a .548 batting average with 10 doubles and 18 RBI's, while also standing at 12-1in the circle with a 3.16 ERA in 86.1 innings of work and has 31 strikeouts. Her 10 doubles in a season stands 22nd best in single-season efforts, while her 16 career doubles is now 16th on the career list. She has 62 career hits, while also owning a career record of 13-8 record in 151 innings of work and is currently 18th. She is now 12th in career wins, while her 5.28 career ERA is 15th.
Agate now has 74 career hits in 80 career games played with 56 RBI's which ranks 19th on the career list. She also boasts 14 career doubles and is 18th.
RSC is back in action on April 30 travelling to Elmira College for an Empire 8 doubleheader.
