Hawks Off to Solid Start Against Stiff Competition

FORT MYERS, FL — The SUNY New Paltz softball team is off to a 1-3 start on their opening spring trip to Fort Myers, Florida. The Hawks picked up their win in a 3-2 defeat of Mt. Mercy this morning, before falling 4-3 to Hamline. SUNY New Paltz opened the 2006 season on Sunday, March 19 with consecutive losses to Trinity College, 1-0, and Babson, 6-1.

Down 2-1 in the seventh, senior outfielder Lisa Wong (Colts Neck, NJ) opened the inning, against Mt. Mercy, with a single. Junior catcher Margaret Blair (Lake Peekskill, NY) then reached first on an error to set the field for senior first baseman Liz McPartlan (Huntington Station, NY). McPartlan collected her second hit of the contest as she ripped the game winning two-run double.

Senior third baseman Danielle Porcelli (Huntington Station, NY) provided a RBI single in the sixth to get the Hawks on the board. Porcelli recorded two hits, as Blair went 1-for-4 with a triple and a run scored. Sophomore pitcher Michelle Reinke (St. James, NY) pitched a complete game to earn her first win of 2006. She allowed four hits and two runs, while walking two and striking out four.

The Hawks threatened in the seventh, against Hamline, when Porcelli lined a two RBI single up the middle to bring SUNY New Paltz (1-3) within one. Sophomore pitcher Kelly O’Hea (Huntington Station, NY) did all she could, but it was not enough to lead the SUNY New Paltz softball team past Hamline (4-0). O’Hea allowed six hits and four runs over seven innings of work, while striking out four. McPartlan went 1-for-3 with a RBI single. Junior outfielder Amy O’Brien (LaGrangeville, NY) totaled two hits in the affair.

SUNY New Paltz opened the 2006 season against Trinity College (2-0). The Hawks battled behind the solid pitching of Reinke (1-1), who struck out seven. SUNY New Paltz struggled to generate any offense totaling only two hits as a team. O’Brien and Blair each collected a hit in the contest.

McPartlan and Porcelli led the SUNY New Paltz offense against Babson (2-0). Porcelli went 3-for-3 at the plate, with two doubles, while McPartlan provided the Hawks’ only run in the contest with a RBI double. O’Hea (0-2) struck out two in seven innings of work.

The SUNY New Paltz softball team will continue their schedule at the Gene Cusic Classic tomorrow, Tuesday, March 21 with games against Cardinal Stritch and Middlebury University.