Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The Mount Saint Mary College softball team (8-4, 4-0 Skyline) opened its conference schedule in grand fashion, completing a perfect weekend of Skyline Conference action with a sweep of NYU-Poly (0-10, 0-4 Skyline) on Sunday at Wagner College. The Knights took Sunday's opener, 10-8, before coming out victorious in game two, 13-5.

Sunday's first contest was an exciting back-and-forth matchup. The Knights took a quick lead on a two-run blast by freshman designated player Michelle Surdan (Acton, Mass.) in the top of the first. They did not hold the lead long, though, because Poly's Megan Moran cleared the bases with a three-RBI double to put the Fighting Blue Jays up, 3-2, after the first inning.

Senior right fielder Ashley Peel (Shelton, Conn.) continued the Knights' power surge, homering to right center in the top of the second to tie the game at three. Poly bounced right back with a pair of RBI singles in the home half of the inning to go up, 5-3.

The Knights rallied back in the fourth to take their second lead of the game. Surdan opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly that brought in Peel from third. Junior third baseman Danielle Soto (Miller Place, N.Y.) then singled in freshman second baseman Shannon Sommer (Brewster, N.Y.) to tie the game at 5-5. Senior catcher Stephanie Karcher (Oxford, Conn.) then gave the Knights the lead with an RBI double to score Soto.

The Jays took the lead right back once again with a two-RBI double by Sadie Hoeschen that put them up, 7-6. The Knights strung together another three-run inning in the top of the sixth to go up for good. Soto knocked in Sommer on an infield single with the bases loaded to tie it up at 7-7. Karcher then grounded out to short, but it was deep enough to bring in sophomore left fielder Brianne Germain (Greenwood Lake, N.Y.) from third to take the lead. Freshman shortstop Breanna DePasquale (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added to the Knight lead with an RBI double that left the Knights up, 9-7.

The Blue Jays grabbed one back in the bottom of the sixth on a fielding error, but the Knights still held a one-run lead. Surdan added another run to the Knights lead with a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh, and then the Knights held on to claim the victory in game one.

Sophomore starter Victoria Goldbach (Middle Village, N.Y.) picked up the win in game one to improve to 4-1 on the season. She allowed four earned runs across the complete seven innings and struck out 11 Poly batters. Lyndsey Rathburn took the loss for Poly, allowing 10 runs (eight earned) and 14 hits in seven innings.

Surdan knocked in four runs in a 2-for-2 effort that included a home run and a pair of sacrifice flies. Sommer went 3-for-5 out of the leadoff spot and scored three runs, while Soto matched her with a 3-for-5 outing, knocking in two runs and scoring once. Peel went 2-for-4 with her third home run of the season.

Poly second baseman Karina Amaro went 3-for-4 in game one with an RBI, while catcher Valerie Schwein matched her with a 3-for-4 game. Right fielder Ryane Pappa scored three times in a 2-for-4 outing out of the leadoff spot.

The Fighting Blue Jays grabbed the first lead of game two on an RBI single by first baseman Christi Bruin in the bottom of the first. Sophomore center fielder Sabrina Gordek (Levittown, N.Y.) reached on an error in the top of the second that scored DePasquale to tie the game. Karcher stroked an RBI single up the middle in the top of the third to give the Knights a 2-1 lead.

Hoeschen picked up an RBI single through the left side for the Jays in the bottom of the third to tie the game at two. The Knights then got their big blast of the game when Soto slammed a three-run blast to left field to put the Knights up 5-2 after five innings. They added another four runs to their lead in the top of the sixth, starting with an RBI single to right by Germain. Karcher later doubled to left center to bring in Germain, and then DePasquale reached on an error by the center fielder, which also brought in Karcher and Soto to leave the Knights up 9-2 in the sixth.

Amaro picked up a big three-RBI double for the Jays in the home half of the sixth to get them back within four runs. The Knights assure themselves the victory in the top of the seventh with another four runs, including an RBI double by Surdan and a sacrifice fly by Soto to get the Knights to 13 runs.

Senior starter Amanda Barrese (Staten Island, N.Y.) improved to 2-3 with her second win of the weekend in game two. She went the full seven innings, allowing just two earned runs and striking out a pair. Rathburn started for Poly again in game two, allowing 13 runs (five earned) and 14 hits in seven innings of work.

Soto knocked in four runs and scored twice for the Knights in a 1-for-2 effort that included her first home run of the season. Germain scored four times in a 2-for-4 outing, adding an RBI, while Peel matched that 2-for-4 game, scoring twice.

Amaro led Poly by going 3-for-4 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored. Bruin went 1-for-2 with an RBI, while Pappa went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

The Knights are scheduled to play next on Tuesday, March 25, with a home doubleheader against York College (N.Y.). First pitch of game one is set to be thrown at 3:30 p.m.

Follow the Knights on Twitter at @MSMCKnights