NEW PALTZ, NY — The SUNY New Paltz softball team split a pair of 4-3 games at home against conference rival Potsdam this afternoon.
In the first game, senior Lisa Taub (Greenlawn, NY) scored from third on a wild pitch with two out in the bottom of the seventh to give the Hawks the win. Taub, who was sent into the game to run for freshman second baseman Lisa Wong (Colts Neck, NJ) who led the inning off with a walk, stole second, and advanced to third on a sacrifice by junior shortstop Jessica Schropfer (Glen Oaks, NY). Potsdam junior pitcher Kari Brady (Heuvelton, NY) then retired senior left fielder Val Blackman (Castle Creek, NY) on pop up to second for out number two. Then, with sophomore third baseman Danielle Porcelli (Huntington Station, NY) at the plate, Brady uncorked a wild pitch that sent home the game-winning run.
Junior Laura Thomas (Interlaken, NY) pitched seven innings and gave up seven hits to earn the win for the Hawks. Thomas, who walked three and struck out one, was also 2-for- 3 at the plate and scored a run. Junior outfielder Jen Born (Walworth, NY) was 1-for-3 and had an RBI single in the sixth that knocked in the equalizer.
SUNY New Paltz scored single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh to overcome an early 3-1 deficit. Potsdam junior first baseman Kerri Lemery (Hudson Falls, NY) was 1-for-2 and drove in two in a three-run third for the Bears.
In the second game, the Hawks built a 3-0 lead behind a two- run single off the bat of sophomore first baseman Liz McPartlan (Huntington Station, NY) in the second. Potsdam came up with two in the fourth and went ahead in a two-run fifth. Freshman shortstop Toni Blevins (Ogdensburg, NY) was hit by a pitch with the bases full to force the tying-run home. Then with Brady at the plate, a wild pitch by SUNY New Paltz freshman starter Carrie Briscoe (Stuyvesant, NY) allowed the go-ahead run to score.
Freshman Amanda Maxwell (Pulaski, NY) went five and a third innings to earn the win for Potsdam (2-19, 2-8). Brady, the losing pitcher in game one, worked the final inning and two thirds for the save.
Briscoe took the loss in five innings of work. McPartlan was 2-for-4 with two runs batted in for the Hawks (5-21-1, 1-9).
