Ft. Myers, FL – The SUNY New Paltz softball team went 1-1 on Friday March 20th. The Hawks defeated St. Lawrence 8-0 in five innings before falling 7-2 to Plymouth State. New Paltz is 6-4 on the season and will wrap-up their spring trip with a double-header against Wisconsin-Superior at 9am on Saturday March 21 at the Lee County Sports Complex.
In game one, the Hawks totaled 12 hits, including three homeruns against the Saints. First year Samantha Barra led the way for the Hawks as she was 3-for-3 from the plate with two runs and three RBI. Dale Cornelius, Melyssa Cilmi and Elizabeth Tong each went 2-for-3 from the plate. Sophomore Courtney Costello earned the win on the mound in five innings as she allowed three hits, one walk and two strikeouts.
In the first inning, Barra hit a two run homerun with two outs in the first inning for the early lead. The Hawks put three consecutive singles together in the second inning with two outs to start a rally and score one run. Sophomore Jordan Paley singled to right field and advanced to second on a single over the shortstop by Tong and Cilmi followed with an RBI single up the middle to score Paley. Tori Kyle was walked to load the bases but the Saints struck the next batter out.
New Paltz loaded the bases in the third inning but was unable to tally any runs. In the fourth inning the Hawks had hot bats as they tallied five runs on six hits. With one out and Cilmi on first base after a pitch hit her, Justine Scutaro was walked. With runners on first and second, Barra had her third hit of the game with an RBI single up the middle to score Cilmi. Rose Dovi followed with a three run homerun to clear the bases. St. Lawrence switched pitchers and Cornelius stepped to the plate and hit the third homerun of the game for the 8-0 lead. With two outs, Cassie Barcavage, Tong and Cilmi hit three singles to load the bases before the Saints got the last out and leave the runners stranded.
In game two, the Hawks were out hit 13-5 by the Panthers as each team left six on base. Registering the hits for the Hawks were Cornelius, Jenna Curcio, Kyle, Paley and Scutaro. First year Devon Kelly took the loss on the mound as she allowed six runs on ten hits in four and a third innings. Alyssa Oliva came in on relief and allowed one run on three hits with three strikeouts in the final three innings.
Plymouth State took an early 4-0 lead in the second inning on four hits and one error by the Hawks. They added two more runs on three hits in the fifth inning and scored one run in the sixth inning. New Paltz tallied their first run of the game in the sixth inning. Elizabeth May walked and advanced to third on an error by the leftfielder with two outs and she scored when the catcher had a throwing error.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Hawks tallied three hits including a double by Cornelius and an RBI single by Paley for the 7-2 final.
