Softball Goes 1-1; Scutaro Hits Game Winning Single

Ft. Myers, FL – Justine Scutaro hit the game winning RBI single to left center in the bottom of the seventh for a 3-2 win over Roger Williams as the Hawks went 1-1 on the day. The win improves New Paltz to 5-1 on the season as they fell to Bowdoin 5-4 in eight innings in the first game. Scutaro’s hit extends her hitting streak to six consecutive games. The Hawks have Wednesday off and will return to action on Thursday, March 19 when they play Western New England at 9am and Salem State at 11am at the Lee County Sports Complex.

In game one, Scutaro and Samantha Barra registered the only two hits for New Paltz and the Hawks were unable to pull out a win with seven Bowdoin errors. First year Devon Kelly took the loss on the mound as she allowed one run and one walk in the final inning. Alyssa Oliva started the game and allowed two runs on five hits in three and two thirds innings pitched. Sara Palleschi threw two thirds of an inning and Courtney Costello tossed two and two thirds inning.

Bowdoin scored two runs on four hits in the top of the fourth inning. The Hawks first out of the inning came when a runner on second was thrown out at home plate by leftfielder Tori Kyle to Dale Cornelius. The second out came on a run down pick off between second and third and Elizabeth May came up with the tag. The final out of the inning came with runners on second and third and Bowdoin looking to increase their lead when Scutaro caught a line drive.

The Hawks answered in the bottom of the inning with four runs on one hit and three errors. Barra started things off with a single to short center field. Elizabeth Tong entered as a pinch runner and moved to second on an error by Bowdoin’s shortstop and Cornelius reached first on a fielder’s choice. With runners on first and second and one out, May bunted and reached first on an error advancing all other runners two bases and scoring Tong. Sophomore Jordan Paley bunted down the third base line and the Bears opted to watch home plate, making Paley safe at first. With bases loaded and still one out all runners advanced on a passed ball to tie the game at 2-2. The Hawks tallied two more runs with two outs and runners on second and third when junior Erin Fitzpatrick popped up to second base but the Bears committed their third error of the game when the ball was dropped.

Bowdoin loaded the bases in the top of the fifth with one out and advanced all runners on a passed ball. With runners left on second and third the Bears grounded out to shortstop, but scored the tying run to make it a 4-4 ball game heading in to the bottom of the fifth.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Hawks had runners in scoring position on second and third with one out due to two Bowdoin errors but the Bears got the next two batters and forced the extra inning. Bowdoin scored the winning run on a wild pitch and New Paltz was unable to answer with a run in the bottom of the inning.

In game two, Kelly earned her second win of the season on the mound as she threw the final three innings and allowed zero runs on one hit with one walk. Costello started the game and threw four innings, allowing two runs on six hits with two walks and one strikeout. Barra went 2-for-3 from the plate and six other batters tallied one hit in the win.

Roger Williams took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on two hits and one error. With the runner on third and two outs Roger Williams had an RBI single. They extended their lead with one run on three hits in the fourth inning. With bases loaded, New Paltz got the out at home but went for the double play at third and missed the throw, sending the runner home.

The Hawks had runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the fourth when Roger Williams turned a double play to keep the lead. New Paltz turned their second double play of the season in top of the fifth.

The Hawks tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning. Scutaro was walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Barra stepped to the plate and hit a single up the middle to score Scutaro. With two outs and nobody on base, Cornelius hit a double to right center and scored the tying run on a Roger Williams’ error. New Paltz held Roger Williams scoreless in the seventh to set the stage for Scutaro’s game winning RBI single.