Softball Swept in Doubleheader by Oneonta

NEW PALTZ, NY — The Hawks held the advantage in each of this afternoon’s games against Oneonta, but late Red Dragon rallies overcame SUNY New Paltz 6-4 in an extra inning opener, and 9-8 in the nightcap.

SUNY New Paltz (16-20, 6-14) scored four runs in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead in the opener. Senior third baseman Danielle Porcelli (Huntington Station, NY) doubled in senior second baseman Lisa Wong (Colts Neck, NJ). Sophomore shortstop Amalia Ditrapani (Staten Island, NY) followed with a RBI single, sophomore outfielder Joelle VonBischoffshausen (North Brunswick, NJ) plated Ditrapani on a sacrifice fly, and sophomore outfielder Lauren Motzkin (Woodstock, NY) collected a RBI single to propel the Hawks into the lead.

Oneonta (17-15, 8-8) tied the affair in the top of the seventh on a RBI single from sophomore first baseman Shannon Smith (Putnam Valley, NY). In the eighth, after a run scored on a fielder’s choice, a homerun off the bat of senior catcher Michelle Norwich (Mohawk, NY) gave the Red Dragons a two-run advantage. SUNY New Paltz failed to score in the bottom of the extra frame, as Oneonta took the 6-4 victory.

Junior designated hitter Margaret Blair (Lake Peekskill, NY), Motzkin and Porcelli, each recorded two hits in the contest for the Hawks. Sophomore pitcher Michelle Reinke (St. James, NY) allowed four earned runs in eight innings, picking up the loss. Sophomores, outfielder Shannon Egan (Hauppauge, NY) and shortstop Jamie Llewellyn (Oneonta, NY) each totaled three hits for the Red Dragons. Junior pitcher Kathleen Wood (Selden, NY) earned her eighth win in two and two-thirds innings of relief for Oneonta.

The Hawks entered the sixth inning with a five-run lead, 8-3, in the nightcap. Oneonta rallied for six runs on five hits and two errors to steal a 9-8 victory. Junior outfielder Meghan Martin (Wappingers Falls, NY) tied the game with a RBI double, as Llewellyn followed with a game-winning sacrifice fly.

Wong recorded three hits in the second game to lead the Hawks offensively. McPartlan, freshman Christina Charvat (Eastport, NY) and junior outfielder Amy O’Brien (LaGrangeville, NY) each totaled two hits. Wong and Charvat collected two RBI apiece. Norwich went 4-for-4, including a fifth inning solo-homerun to lead Oneonta. Senior pitcher Kim Prior (Coeymans, NY) picked up the win in relief for the Red Dragons, as sophomore pitcher Kelly O’Hea (Huntington Station, NY) took the loss for the Hawks.

The SUNY New Paltz softball team will host St. Joseph’s (Brooklyn) in their season finale tomorrow, Friday, April 28 in a 3:00 pm doubleheader.