Softball Takes One From Oswego in Twinbill

NEW PALTZ, NY — The Hawks scored three runs in the fourth inning to pick up their 16th win of the season, defeating Oswego 5-1 in this afternoon’s opener. The Lakers took the second game 5-3.

SUNY New Paltz (16-18, 6-12) scored three runs, on four hits, in the fourth inning of game one en route to the 5-1 victory. Sophomore outfielder Lauren Motzkin (Woodstock, NY) led off the inning with a double and senior first baseman Liz McPartlan (Huntington Station, NY) followed with a single. Senior second baseman Lisa Wong (Colts Neck, NJ) walked to load the bases for junior outfielder Amy O’Brien (LaGrangeville, NY). O’Brien ripped a single to center to knock in Motzkin and put the Hawks on the board, 1-0. Sophomore shortstop Amalia Ditrapani (Staten Island, NY) plated two runs with a double to center to give SUNY New Paltz the 3-0 advantage.

Oswego (7-21, 4-10) scored a run in the fifth, but the Hawks responded, scoring once in the fifth and once in the sixth to seal the 5-1 win. A single from Wong in the fifth and a double from junior catcher Margaret Blair (Lake Peekskill, NY) in the sixth provided the Hawks with the late insurance runs. Blair went 2-for-4 with a RBI. Motzkin and McPartlan joined Blair with two hits apiece, as Ditrapani went 1-for-3 with two RBI.

The Lakers totaled four hits in the contest; junior outfielder Carolyn Agle (Eden, NY), freshman outfielder Heather Merino (Queensbury, NY), junior outfielder Jessica Mills (Wallkill, NY) and senior second baseman Laurie Volkmar (Hilton, NY) each recorded a hit. Sophomore pitcher Michelle Reinke (St. James, NY) earned her 11th win for SUNY New Paltz, allowing one run, in seven innings of work. She walked two and struck out five. Freshman pitcher Michelle Jackson (Amsterdam, NY) picked up the loss for Oswego.

The Hawks held a 2-1 lead after three in the second game, but the Lakers rallied for four runs on five hits, in the fourth, to steal the edge, 5-2. The Hawks threatened with a late run, but it was not enough to overtake Oswego, who won the second game 5-3. Motzkin tripled and McPartlan singled, leading SUNY New Paltz to a two-run third inning. Sophomore outfielder Joelle VonBischoffshausen (North Brunswick, NJ) doubled in a run in the seventh, but the Hawks were unable to keep the rally going, as Oswego took game two, 5-3.

O’Brien led SUNY New Paltz, offensively, with two hits. Blair, VonBischoffshausen, Motzkin, McPartlan, Wong and freshman outfielder Gina Morano (Shirley, NY) each recorded a hit. Sophomore pitcher Kelly O’Hea (Huntington Station, NY) allowed eight hits and five runs, striking out one in six innings. O’Hea falls to 5-11 with the loss. Senior pitcher Susie Burt (Cuba, NY) earned her third win of 2006 for Oswego, allowing two earned runs on eight hits, while walking one and striking out two in seven innings.

The SUNY New Paltz softball team will host Oneonta in a conference doubleheader tomorrow, Thursday, April 27, at 3:00 pm.