Albany, NY–Russell Sage College's softball team hosted the Saxons of Alfred University on Sunday afternoon in an Empire 8 doubleheader. Alfred took the pair from the Gators marking the team's first back to back losses of the year. Alfred improves to 26-7 overall and 15-5 in the Empire 8. RSC is now 14-4 overall and also in the Empire 8.
Game #1 Alfred 10-0 RSC (5 Innings)
Alfred University's graduate player Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) struck out 12 Gators in collecting the complete game shutout win. Wilcox improves to 13-3 after she scattered two hits. Junior pitcher Taylor Dicranian (Bennington, VT/Mt. Anthony Union) suffered the loss as she allowed 10 runs off 13 hits with 7 earned runs as she drops to 12-2.
Alfred had four doubles as Wilcox was also 1 for 3 at the plate with a pair of RBI's. Elena Ceja (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Beach) had a double and drove in two runs, while Sydney Saucedo (Whittier, CA/La Serna) also drove in two runs and had a double. Junior Tati Meja (North Hills, CA/John F. Kennedy) also added a double and was 2/4 with three runs scored.
For the Gators, rookie Isabella Vano (Yorktown Heights, NY/Yorktown) had a double.
Game # 2 Alfred 14-3 RSC (6 innings)
Alfred jumped out to a 7-0 lead with five runs in the top of the second inning. The Gators added a run in the bottom of the fourth as sophomore Lauren Salmonese (Poughkeepsie, NY/Pougkeepsie) had an RBI to drive in the team's first run.
In the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs, senior Emily Agate (Franklin Square, NY/H. Frank Carey) had a two run home run to right centerfield to keep the Gators alive. Agate now has five career home runs and is now tied for 18th on the Gators career record book, while her 75 career hits is 29th best as well.
Junior Arianna Papas (Castleton, NY/Maple Hill) was 2/3 at the plate and leads the Gators this spring with her .557 batting average, 39 hits with 13 extra-base hits. Her 39 hits this season ranks 29th in single-season marks.
Sophomore Makayla Lindsey (New Fairfield, CT/New Fairfield) took the loss dropping to 2-2in the circle as she allowed eight earned runs off 10 hits with three strikeouts.
For Alfred, sophomore Arden Hatch (Orangeville, CA/St. Francis) worked four innings with one earned run off three hits with six strikeouts. She collected the win to move to 6-1. Wilcox worked two innings as well and struck out three with two earned runs off four hits.
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
RSC is back in action on May 4 travelling to Elmira College for an Empire 8 doubleheader.
