Reinke’s No-Hitter Helps Hawks to Split With Fighting Blue Jays

NEW PALTZ, NY — Sophomore pitcher Michelle Reinke (St. James, NY) tossed a no-hitter in the first game of today’s softball doubleheader against Polytechnic to help SUNY New Paltz to a split. The Hawks earned the win in the first game, 2-0, before falling to the Fighting Blue Jays, 3-2, in the second contest.

In the opener, Reinke (4-2) allowed only one baserunner on a walk in the top of the seventh. In seven innings of work she struck out 11 to pick up her fourth win of the year. SUNY New Paltz (4-6) struck early, scoring a run in each of the first two innings. In the first inning, sophomore outfielder Lauren Motzkin (Woodstock, NY) ripped a RBI single to bring home junior catcher Margaret Blair (Lake Peekskill, NY). Junior outfielder Amy O’Brien (LaGrangeville, NY) tagged a single down the right field line in the second to knock in senior third baseman Danielle Porcelli (Huntington Station, NY). O’Brien and sophomore shortstop Amalia Ditrapani (Staten Island, NY) each collected two hits in the affair.

The Hawks scored twice in the fifth inning, of game two, on three base-hits to take a 2-1 lead. Polytechnic (9-6), however, responded with two runs in the top of the sixth to take a late one-run edge, 3-2. Sophomore outfielder Maria Carnicella (Patton, PA) led the Fighting Blue Jays with two hits and a RBI. Freshman pitcher Stephanie Niziolek (Hamden, CT) earned the win for Polytechnic allowing six hits, two runs, and a walk, while striking out four in seven innings.

DiTrapani doubled into the left field corner to start the SUNY New Paltz surge in the fifth. Motzkin and senior first baseman Liz McPartlan (Huntington Station, NY) followed with RBI singles to score the Hawks’ two runs. Sophomore pitcher Kelly O’Hea (Huntington Station, NY) picked up her fourth loss of 2006 allowing five hits, three runs, one earned, and walking two over five innings. Reinke walked one and allowed a hit in two innings of relief.

The SUNY New Paltz softball team will travel to Geneseo tomorrow, Friday, March 31, for a 3:00 pm State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) doubleheader.