Ft. Myers, FL – The SUNY New Paltz softball team opened the 2009 season in Ft. Myers, FL Sunday morning with an 8-2 win over Albright and a 14-2 victory over Illinois College, committing no errors on the day in the field. The Hawks return to action on Monday when they face Macalester at 1pm, followed by Richard Stockton at 3pm at the Cape Coral fields.
In game one, the Hawks tallied eight runs on 10 hits, while Albright registered two runs on seven hits with four errors. Both teams left eight runners on base. Sophomore Courtney Costello (Bayport/Bayport Blue-Point) earned the win on the mound, throwing five and two third innings. Costello allowed two runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts. First year Devon Kelly (Baldwin) came in to throw the final one and a third inning and allowed no runs on one hit.
Albright took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as the Lions started things off with a walk and advanced the runner to second on a sacrifice bunt. The runner was hit home on a single to short right field. Albright extended their lead to 2-0 in the second. With two outs, the batter was hit by a pitch and proceeded to be hit home on a double down the left field line.
In the second inning with two outs, sophomore Jordan Paley (Albany) singled down the right field line. Junior Tori Kyle (Staten Island/Curtis) followed with a single lefty slap to the shortstop and beat the throw with her speed. Melyssa Cilmi (Huntington Stations/Walt Whitman) stepped to the plate with runners on first and second; drove a shot to center field but the ball was caught to end the inning. In the third inning the Lions were hoping to increase their lead with runners on first and second. However with two outs, Cilmi ended the inning with a catch in centerfield.
The Hawks tallied four runs in the third inning with the help of two errors from the Lions. Junior Elizabeth May (Commack) started things off with a line drive to left field. Justine Scutaro (Shoreham/Shoreham – Wadiing River) bunted, reached first on an error and advanced to third on the overthrow; sending May home for the first run of the inning. First year Samantha Barra (Islip) was walked and Elizabeth Tong (Woodstock/Onteora) was sent in to pinch run and stole second. With runners on second and third, junior Dale Cornelius (Carle Place) hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Scutaro and advance Tong to third. Junior Erin Fitzpatrick (Delmar/Bethlehem Central) was walked and stole second with Albright not looking. Rose Dovi (Cortland) grounded out to shortstop but tallied the RBI as Tong scored. Paley reached first on another Lion error, sending Fitzpatrick in for the fourth run before the inning ended on the next batter.
New Paltz scored four more runs in the bottom of the sixth to take an 8-2 lead on four hits with one error. Kyle hit her second single of the day over second base and stole second to start things off. Cilmi hit a ground-rule double down the left field line to score Kyle. May reached on an error, sending Cilmi to third, before she stole second. Scutaro hit an RBI single advancing runners followed by an RBI sacrifice fly by Barra. Cornelius reached on a fielder’s choice as the Lions tagged Scutaro out at home. Cornelius stole second and advanced to third on the throw before being hit home on an RBI single by Fitzpatrick.
New Paltz ended the game in the top of the seventh, as they allowed no runs on one hit with zero errors.
In game two, first year Alyssa Oliva (Fishkill/John Jay) earned the first win of her collegiate career as she threw three complete innings. Oliva allowed two runs on four hits and one walk, while striking out three batters. Sara Palleschi (Chatham) came in on relief for the final two innings allowing zero runs on three hits and striking out one batter.
New Paltz took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. With one out May walked and advanced to second on a passed ball. Scutaro singled and advanced to second while May moved to third. Barra grounded out to first, bringing May in to score and advancing Scutaro. Scutaro finished rounding the bases on a passed ball.
Illinois tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the second on a two-run homerun with two outs.
The Hawks answered by scoring six runs on five hits with one error and three passed balls in the third for the 8-2 lead. Kyle singled up the middle, stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. Cilmi walked and moved to second on an RBI single by May. Scutaro hit an RIB single to right centerfield and advanced to second as the Bears went for the play at home to try and get Cilmi out but failed. Barra hit an RBI single to center field to score May and she advanced to second when Illinois went for the play at home and tagged out Scutaro. With one out and a runner on second, Cornelius reached on an error and eventually stole second, moving Barra to third. Both runners advanced on a passed ball with Barra scoring. Fitzpatrick walked and advanced to second and moved to third on a passed ball while Cornelius cross home plate. First year Jenna Curcio (Conklin/Susquehanna Valley) hit an RBI single to bring in Fitzpatrick before the Bears tallied the last two outs to complete the inning.
New Paltz registered three more runs on five hits in the fourth inning. With two outs and Climi on first after a single up the middle the Hawks put together four consecutive hits. Scutaro singled to right field, Barra hit an RBI double to left center, Cornelius hit a two run RBI single up the middle and Fitzpatrick singled down the left field line.
Illinois was ready to tally some runs in the bottom of the fourth as they had bases loaded with two outs before the Hawk ended the inning as Kyle caught a line drive in left field.
New Paltz completed the scoring in the fifth inning, scoring three runs on three hits and one errors. With two outs the Hawks got the bats going again. Cilmi doubled to center field, Tong singled down the left field line and Scutaro hit a two-run RBI double down the left field line. Barra reached on an error, sending Scutaro home for the final run.
