SARATOGA, N.Y. – Russell Sage College softball split a doubleheader with Skidmore on Wednesday afternoon, taking game one by a score of 13-9 before dropping game two by a score of 8-7.
The Gators used two late rallies to take down the Thoroughbreds in game one.
Skidmore put up eight runs in the bottom of the first frame, which was enough to hold a lead for most of the contest as they led 8-5 heading into the top of the 7th. Two of those five runs came in the 4th inning, as O'Keefe brought home Santana on a triple and then scored on a single off the bat of Madalyn Ring (Ganzevoort, NY/South Glens Falls).
The Gators scored three in the 7th, on a RBI double for senior outfielder Isabella Vano (Yorktown Heights, NY/Yorktown), a bases loaded hit by pitch for sophomore infielder Amber Banas (Saugerties, NY/Saugerties), and a run-producing ground out for sophomore infielder Ciana Santana (East Meadow, NY/East Meadow).
Sophomore pitcher Leah Madore (Williamsville, VT/Brattleboro Union), who threw a nine punchout complete game in the opener, put up a zero in the bottom of the 7th to send the game to extra innings.
Each team scored one in the 8th, RSC's run coming on a RBI groundout by freshman infielder Annalise Tyler (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) and sent it to a second extra frame where the Gators put it away with a four-run effort.
RBI singles by junior catcher Serina Garmendiz (Hempstead, NC/Pine Bush), sophomore outfielder Emma Heartquist (Stuyvesant, NY/Ichabod Crane), and Banas along with a sacrifice fly by freshman outfielder Emily O’Keefe (Albany, NY/Albany) concluded to 13-9 thriller.
Two Sage runs came in the 4th inning, as O'Keefe brought home Santana on a triple and then scored on a single off the bat of Madalyn Ring (Ganzevoort, NY/South Glens Falls).
Courtney Somsky led the offense for the Thoroughbreds in the opener, driving in two runs during her 2-4 effort.
In game two, the Gators controlled the scoring for most of the game, holding a 7-1 lead going into the bottom half of the final frame.
Vano went 2-4 including an RBI double in the first inning. The senior then scored for herself on an error two batters later.
Garmendiz produced a run on a groundout, while Tyler ripped two run-scoring doubles. The first-year scored on a throwing error in the 6th inning, which also brought home O'Keefe to complete the scoring efforts for the Gators.
Skidmore College (4-14) woke up their offense in the bottom of the seventh, producing six runs to complete the doubleheader in a split.
Grace O'Connell and Madison Bonham both hit 2-run homers, and Jessica Nachamie ripped a walk-off 2-run triple to end the ballgame.
Looking ahead, RSC (5-13) heads to Rochester for a doubleheader with the Cardinals of St. John Fisher on Saturday.
Gator Bites: The Gators return to the diamond this year looking to improve on a 2023 season where they reached the finals of the Empire 8 Conference Championship Tournament Championship…Head Coach Stephanie Reinhardt is in her first season at the helm of RSC Softball…Ten players, including six starters, returned this spring. Sophomore pitcher Leah Madore (Williamsville, VT/Brattleboro Union) was named Empire 8 conference pitcher of the week for the period ending Sunday, April 7. The righty allowed zero earned runs and struck out 16 across 10.1 innings of work.
Gator Golf: The 19th Annual Gator Golf Classic will be held May 31, 2024. More Information: https://www.
