Utica, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly wildcat softball team dropped two games to the Russell Sage College Gators by scores of 5-3 and 3-1. Alivia Turk had a strong day at the plate for the Wildcats, finishing the day 6-8 with 2 RBIs. The Wildcats are now 18-13 on the season.

GAME ONE: 

The first inning went quietly for both sides, as Sage was retired in order and SUNY Poly managed only a single from Ava Faragon. But the home team broke through in the bottom of the second, when Kelly Powell led off with a single and promptly stole second. Alivia Turk followed with a line-drive RBI double to left center, giving the Wildcats a 1–0 lead.

SUNY Poly extended their advantage in the third. Faragon singled again, and Shelbi Hagues followed with another base hit. After a stolen base, Kimberly Birmingham delivered a two-run double to right, stretching the lead to 3–0.

Sage struggled to get anything going through the first four innings, managing just two hits and leaving four runners stranded. But in the top of the fifth, Sage finally broke through. Bella Julian sparked the rally with a leadoff double, followed by a single from Madalyn Ring. With two outs, Emma Heartquist came through with a two-RBI single to center, trimming the deficit to 3–2.

The Wildcats threatened in their half of the fifth, loading the bases with one out, but Sage's defense held firm, cutting down a runner at home on a fielder's choice and escaping the jam. 

Sage capitalized on the momentum in the sixth. Carmela DeMaio and Julian singled to start the inning, and a passed ball brought in the tying run. Allison Kenyon then roped a single to center to drive in two more, putting Sage in front 5–3.

SUNY Poly mounted one final push in the seventh. A leadoff walk and a single put runners on for Jillian O'Connor, who drove in Powell with a two-out RBI single to make it 5–4. But with the tying run on base, the Gators shut the door, recording the final out to preserve the win.

GAME TWO:

The Gators wasted no time getting on the board in the top of the first. A single, sac fly and another single made it 2-0 for Sage. 

SUNY Poly tried to respond in the bottom of the frame with a two-out single from Kimberly Birmingham, but Sage's defense held strong to keep the Wildcats off the board.

After a quiet second inning, Sage threatened again in the third, but couldn't add to their lead. The Wildcats had a chance to close the gap in the fourth, loading the bases with one out thanks to singles from Alivia Turk and Joely Welpe and a walk, but failed to capitalize, stranding all three runners.

In the top of the fifth, Sage tacked on an insurance run. Madalyn Ring led off with a walk and advanced on a sacrifice bunt, then Allison Kenyon connected for a RBI double to left, pushing the lead to 3–0.

The Wildcats didn't go down quietly, mounting a serious threat in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, back-to-back singles by Shelbi Hagues and Birmingham, followed by an RBI knock from Turk, brought SUNY Poly within two. A walk loaded the bases, putting the tying run in scoring position, but Sage's pitching came through, striking out the final batter for the 5-3 win.