TROY, N.Y. – The SUNYIT Women's Softball Team (2-8, 0-0 NEAC) was swept by the Sage Colleges' Gators (7-7) on Thursday, 4-3 in the first game followed by 9-1 in 5 innings in the nightcap.

Jessica Patterelli (Canastota, N.Y. / Canastota) took the loss in the first game despite doing all she could on both offense and defense. Patterelli pitched the full game, and pulled the Wildcats within one run in the top of the 7^th by hitting a 2-run homer, her first of the year.

In fact, all of SUNYIT's RBI's on the day came via the long ball, as Danielle Witchley (New Hartford, N.Y. / New Hartford) knocked a solo shot over the fence in the top of the 2^nd inning to make it a 2-1 ball game in favor of Sage.

In the second game the Gators again jumped out to an early lead, scoring 3 in the bottom of the first inning. Despite struggling on the mound (Wildcat pitchers walked 7 on the day), SUNYIT hung around until the bottom of the 4^th inning when the Gators hung 5 runs on the board to extend their lead to 8-1, going on to win it in 5 innings, 9-1.

Kristen Beikirch went 2-for-3 in the game with 2 doubles and 2 runs scored, and shortstop Hilary Faas also added 2 hits and 2 runs scored.

Krista Pristera (New Hartford, N.Y. / New Hartford) added SUNYIT's only hit, a double in the 4^th inning. Pristera would go on to score SUNYIT's only run as well in the inning. The Wildcats struggled against Erika Daigle, who had it going on the mound for the Sage Colleges'. Daigle fanned 7 in 5 innings of work, surrendering just the one hit and one walk.

The Wildcats' next scheduled game – a home doubleheader against SUNY Canton on Monday, 3/31 – has been postponed. Weather permitting, SUNYIT will travel to Utica for a doubleheader on Tuesday, 4/1, beginning at 3:30 pm.