ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College earned a spot in the Empire 8 Conference Championship Tournament by sweeping this afternoon's doubleheader from visiting Elmira.
The Gators, which needed to win both games to make the E8 Tournament for the fourth-straight year, took the opener 7-2 and the nightcap 10-0 (5 innings).
The arm of sophomore Leah Madore (Williamsville, VT/Brattleboro Union) ensured that RSC would not have its season end today. She permitted just six hits and zero earned runs and totaled 20 strikeouts across her two complete game victories (9-10). The righty closed the day leading the E8 in innings pitched, saves, and complete games, while ranking second in strikeouts.
"Leah was great in the circle for us today," said Head Coach Stephanie Reinhardt. "She commanded the zone and kept them off-balanced."
Sophomore infielder Ciana Santana (East Meadow, NY/East Meadow), freshman infielder Annalise Tyler (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) and sophomore outfielder Emma Heartquist (Stuyvesant, NY/Ichabod Crane) keyed the RSC offense. Tyler went 3-for-5 with a run scored and three RBI out of the leadoff spot, Santana was 3-for-6 with three runs scored and three RBI, while Heartquist finished the day 4-for-6 with three runs scored and an RBI.
After having its chances for a big inning early, the Gators finally broke open the first game with a four-run fifth. Santana, one of three Gators with two hits in the opener, and junior outfielder Madalyn Ring (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls) had RBI singles during the rally.
Tyler and Heartquist also had two hits, while senior outfielder Isabella Vano (Yorktown Heights, NY/Yorktown) and Tyler each registered two RBI.
RSC got started quickly in the second game, scoring five runs in the first inning.
Freshman shortstop Allison Kenyon (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) went 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI, while Heartquist was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Elmira (15-18/5-9 E8) was led by junior outfielder Bri Ramstine, who went a combined 3-for-6 with a double, triple, and run scored.
The Gators (12-22/6-8 E8) will host Keuka in the first round of the Empire 8 Conference Championship Tournament on Tuesday afternoon at the Plumeri Sports Complex. First pitch is slated for 3:00 pm.
Gator Golf: The 19th Annual Gator Golf Classic will be held May 31, 2024. More Information: https://www.sagegators.com/
Gator Bites: The Gators have now made the E8 Tournament in four-straight seasons...They reached the Finals of last year's edition…Reinhardt is in her first season at the helm of RSC Softball…Ten players, including six starters returned this spring…Madore was selected the E8 Pitcher of the Week for the period ending Sunday, April 7...She tops the Conference with 151 innings pitched, 14 complete games, and two saves...The righty has whiffed 134 hitters, good for second in the E8...Madore went 3-0 with 30 strikeouts and a 0.37 ERA this week...Opposing hitters only managed 10 hits and batted .149 off Madore during the three complete game wins...Heartquist hit .538 with five runs scored and two RBI across the past four games...Heading into the postseason, the catcher/outfielder leads RSC with a .388 batting average...She is one of five Gators batting better than .305, with four hitting greater than .340...Sophomore infielder Amber Banas (Saugerties, NY/Saugerties) stood out during the playoff push, batting .514 during the final 11 contests of the regular season...Tyler and Ring effectively set the table...Ring has a .343 batting average with 22 stolen bases, while Tyler is batting .363 with 15 steals...The duo rank second and third respectively in the E8 for stolen bases
