Newburgh, N.Y. – After seeing its eight game winning streak stopped in a split at Purchase on Saturday, the Mount Saint Mary College Softball team moved a new winning streak to three games on Sunday with 10-2 and 4-2 wins over league rival Sage. Senior Michelle Surdan (Acton, Mass.) recorded three hits in the opener, with Shannon Sommer (Brewster, N.Y.) recording a trio of safeties in game two.
 
Game 1: Mount Saint Mary 10 – Sage 2
After being held off the board in its first two at-bats in the opener, the Mount struck for four runs in the home half of the third for all the scoring it needed in the game. The Knights strung together four hits in the frame, including a run scoring single from Surdan to open the scoring. Cindy Connoly (Walden, N.Y.) added a run scoring single in the inning and Bridget Bennett (Gardiner, N.Y.) drove in the final run of the inning with a walk.
 
Sage answered with a pair of runs in the fourth to cut its deficit in half when Kiersten Duncan doubled home both tallies with a one out double down the left field line.
 
Leading by two runs, the Knights put the game away with three runs in each of its final two at-bats in game one. Bennett drove home a run with a single through the right side in the fifth and Kathryn Eiler (Merrick, N.Y.) and Emily Lang (Westtown, N.Y.) produced run scoring singles in a three run sixth.
 
The Knights pounded out 10 hits in game one with Surdan leading the offensive charge with a 3-for-4 effort that included a double, RBI and two runs scored. Bennett finished game one 2-for-2 with two walks, two RBI and a run scored, with Connoly drawing two walks and scoring a pair of runs.
 
Connoly won her sixth game of the season in the circle with her 10^th complete game of the year. She allowed two runs on four base hits in her 13^th appearance of the season and struck out four against no walks. Game one marked the eighth appearance this season she has not allowed a walk.
 
Game 2: Mount Saint Mary 4 – Sage 2
In game two, the Mount outhit Sage 7-3 and was forced to overcome a one run deficit after a half inning of play. Alexa Silk scored in the top of the first to give the Gators a 1-0 lead, before the Mount responded with two tallies in the home half of the inning to take their first lead of the game.
 
Surdan chased home Sommer with her second double of the day to tie the score at 1-1 and later scored on an RBI groundout from Eiler to push the Knights in front by a run.
 
The Gators answered back in the fourth with a run to tie the score at 2-2. Katy Rimawi doubled with one out in the inning and later scored when Jess Adams shot a ball through the middle in the next at-bat.
 
The Knights moved back in front in the fifth and tacked on an insurance run in the sixth to secure the sweep. The Mount loaded the bases with no one out in the fifth and got the eventual game winning run on a mishandled third strike. Lang scored the insurance run in the sixth on a base hit up the middle from Amanda Almodovar (Goshen, N.Y.).
 
Sommer rounded out game two 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base out of the leadoff spot. Surdan doubled for the Knights and scored a run with Lang adding a run scored.
 
Bennett picked up her sixth win of the season and moved to 6-3 with her fifth straight triumph. She surrendered just three hits and two runs and struck out a career-high eight batters against no walks.
 
Sunday's sweep pushes Mount Saint Mary to 14-8 overall on the season and to 9-1 in Skyline Conference play. The Knights get right back on the field Monday when they travel to the College of Mount Saint Vincent. First pitch with the Dolphins is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Padavan Preller Park in Bellerose, N.Y.