RANDELL'S ISLAND, NY- Facing multiple game day and time changes, the women's softball team had been itching to get their cleats dirty.  Playing their first home game of the season, the Patriots hosted Sarah Lawrence College, Wednesday, March 19.  The Patriots dominated over the Gryphons, capturing game one, 10-2, and game two, 14-6.  

The Gryphons marked the scoreboard first, grabbing one run at the top of the first inning.  It didn't take long for the Lady Patriots to respond, putting up three runs at their first at bats.  After getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Sarah Brugere pushed all the players forward, bringing in Rachel Gomez.  Getting aggressive on the bags, Molly Rupert and Amanda McGinness made their way around, stealing home on two wild pitches. 

The women picked up two more runs in the second, with Tamika Piper advancing to home on a wild pitch.  Power hitter Amanda McGinness brought in two runs, drilling the ball to center field to bring in Sarah Brugere and Molly Rupert. 

After picking up one more run in the third, the Lady Patriots gave up a second run to the Gryphons with a fielding error.  It would be the final run for the visitors.  Playing off the Gryphons' errors, the Patriots grabbed three more runs in the bottom of the fourth, making the score 10-2.  Ahead by eight runs, the Patriots forced the mercy rule and captured game one!

Game two started off with everything working in the Lady Patriots favor putting them up 11-0 by the end of the first inning.  Sarah Brugere got things going, bringing in three runs with a double down the left field line.  Hit by hit the women rounded the bases, capitalizing on the Gryphons' fielding errors to build a solid cushion before the end of the inning.  Molly Rupert pitched two perfect innings, holding the visitors down before the Patriots committed a slew of fielding errors themselves, allowing four runs at the top of the fourth.  Not letting the errors get to them, the women recorded another two runs of their own at the bottom of the inning. 

Another two runs were scored by the Gryphons' at the top of the fifth, using a dropped fly ball to score and place a running in scoring position.  A hit to the shortstop, brought in the second run for the Gryphons' before Rupert brought the inning to a close with a strikeout.  It took just one run for the Patriots to go up by eight, 14-8 and invoke the mercy rule for the second time and sweeping the Gryphons.

Sarah Brugere went 4-for-6 on the day, bringing in six RBI's and eight putouts.

Molly Rupert recorded eight strikeouts, with just two errors for the day.

"Molly Rupert pitched two outstanding games.  She threw strikes and let the defense make plays behind her.  McGinness led the defense to a nearly flawless doubleheader.  Offensively we capitalized on mistakes and we were aggressive on the base paths.  The top of the lineups set the tone in both games posting three runs in the first game and 11 runs in the first inning of game two." Head Coach Blair Dameron said. "We are very pleased to get back to .500 record and look forward to Saturday when we have a chance to have a winning record for the first time in three years."

The Lady Patriots travel to Washington, D.C., Saturday, March 22, to play in a doubleheader match-up against Trinity Washington University.  The first game is set to start at 12pm.      

Go Patriots!