SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College softball team split their home opener against Russell Sage College on Tuesday afternoon from Alexander Field. Union won game one, 7-2 and lost game two, 11-1.
Junior
Karson Saunders went 2-3 in game two with a home run and an RBI. First-year
Tatum Perkins went 2-3 in game one with a homer and 3 RBIs. Junior
Amanda Granato helped herself out from the batter's box, registering 2 RBIs in game one.
Game One: Union 7, Sage 2
The Dutchwomen broke a 0-0 tie in the bottom of the second inning. After junior
Olivia Valery doubled and senior
Julia Boule singled, Perkins launched her first collegiate homer, a three-run shot to left center field, giving Union a 3-0 lead.
Union extended its lead in the bottom of the fifth after back-to-back singles from junior
Tara Hartnett and first-year
Faith Hughes. Granato scored Hartnett on a misplayed ball by the shortstop, and Saunders then reached on a fielder's choice to score Hughes from third to extend Union's lead to 5-0.
Sage answered back in the top of the sixth inning to cut into the lead, making it 5-1. In the bottom of the sixth, Union sealed the deal with back-to-back RBI singles from Hughes and Granato. Sage tallied one more time in the top of the seventh, but Union came away with the win to snap their four-game skid.
Granato (5-2) earned her fifth win of the season, tossing six innings, while allowing two runs on seven hits and fanning five batters. First-year
Riley Callahan came on for the seventh inning and was able to finish off the Gators.
Game Two: Sage 11, Union 1
Game two was a much different story for the garnet and white, as Sage scored in every inning but the second and scored the first eight runs before Union got on the board.
Facing the run rule in the sixth inning, Saunders belted her team-leading fourth home run into left field to keep Union alive and cut the lead to 8-1. However, Sage would go on to score three more times in the seventh to squander any chances of a comeback from the Dutchwomen.
Granato (5-3) started game two as well and took the loss for the Dutchwomen, tossing two innings, striking out one and allowing three runs on three hits. Senior
Rochelle Nuqui pitched 2.1 innings and struck out one batter while allowing five hits. Callahan tossed the final 2.2 innings for Union and allowed three runs on eight hits.
The Dutchwomen (10-6) continue their home stand on Friday against Ithaca College. Game one from Alexander Field is scheduled for 2 p.m.
