CLERMONT, Fla. – Senior outfielder Kari Bird's two RBI triple in the top of the fifth against Felician highlighted a successful opening day for The College of Saint Rose softball team, allowing the Golden Knights to defeat the Golden Falcons 4-3 after capturing a 4-1 win over the University of the Sciences, and falling to Gannon 1-0 on Sunday at the NTC Spring Games at the National Training Center.

Following a three-run first inning for Felician (2-3), Saint Rose (2-1) got on the board in the second when junior catcher Zoe DuBois nabbed a RBI double off a shot deep to center field, sending junior Tina Karaqi home.

The Golden Knights used their own three-run performance in the fifth to take the lead and the eventual win with Bird's big hit, and a RBI single from Karaqi.

Sophomore Renee Vaiano (0-1) entered in the circle in the bottom of the fifth, relieving junior Nicole Wickham (2-0). The duo combined for two strikeouts, and gave up just one hit in 6.2 innings of work. Senior Anna Carey earned the start, sending one batter back to the dugout and allowing two hits.

In the dual of the Golden Knights with Gannon, Saint Rose committed a pair of errors in the third that allowed Gannon to pick up the one and only run of the game. Senior Jessica Rectenwald got things started as she reached first on a hard hit to sophomore third baseman Carly Wood. Rectenwald advanced to second on the following ground out to Vaiano, took third on a passed ball and ran home off an error from Carey at first.

Junior Danielle Brusca went a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate, while four others registered single hits. Vaiano (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing four hits and striking out two.

Saint Rose kicked off the day on a positive note with the win over the Devils (0-2). Junior right fielder Rachel Waselski put the Golden Knights on the board in the second as she stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and just one out. Waselski dropped a blooper in left field to send DuBois home.

USciences evened the score and notched its only run of the game in its next at bat, with a RBI single up the middle.

The Golden Knights regained the lead and put a steady cushion in place with three runs in the fourth. Freshman outfielder Taylor Solomon pinch hit for senior Meghan Reynolds with Waselski and Marisa Bird on second and third, respectively, and rocked a single to left field, sending both runners home. Solomon would later score off a RBI single to third from Wood.

Wickham collected the win in the circle, fanning five batters and giving up just four hits.

Wood dished out an overall 5-for-9 effort for the Golden Knight offense, followed by Karaqi at 3-for-7, and Bird (Marisa) at 4-for-10.

Saint Rose returns to the NTC Spring Games on Monday to face NYIT at 9:00 am and Concordia at 11:00 am.