The SUNY New Paltz softball team hosted the Geneseo on Friday in their conference home opener and split with the Knights. The Hawks fell to the Knights 9-3 in the first game after ten innings and responded with a 7-2 win in the nightcap in six innings and due to darkness.
In the first game, junior Erin Fitzpatrick (Delmar/Bethlehem Central) went 2-2 from the plate with one RBI and Tori Kyle (Staten Island/Curtis) was 2-4 with two runs scored. Devon Kelly (Baldwin) took the loss on the mound as she threw nine innings and allowed eight runs (two earned) on nine hits with one walk and six strikeouts. New Paltz committed eight errors and left 13 runners on base.
The Hawks tallied one run in the first inning on an RBI single by Fitzpatrick to score Justine Scutaro (Shoreham/Shoreham-Wading River). Kyle scored her first run on the game in the second inning for the 2-0 lead on an RBI by Melyssa Cilmi (Huntington Station/Walt-Whitman).
The Knights cut the lead to 2-1 in the fourth inning and scored the game tying run in the seventh with two outs to force the extra innings. Geneseo took a 3-2 lead in the ninth. The Knights had a runner on second with one two outs when the runner scored on an RBI up the middle as the Hawks tried for the out at home. The batter attempted to advance to third and was thrown out to end the inning.
New Paltz used two hits and one error to score a run and tie the game at 3-3. Kyle singled, stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Cilmi. Elizabeth May (Commack) hit an RBI single to left field to score Kyle and force the tenth inning.
Geneseo capitalized on five New Paltz errors and one hit to score six runs in the tenth inning for the 9-3 final, as the Hawks were unable to respond in the bottom of the inning.
In the nightcap, sophomore Courtney Costello (Bayport/Bayport-Blue Point) earned the win on the mound as she threw six innings and allowed two unearned runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Kyle was 2-2 with two runs scored and Dale Cornelius (Carle Place) was 2-3 with an RBI. Sam Barra (Islip) and Cassie Barcavage (Cold Spring/Haldane) each went 1-3 with two RBI.
New Paltz took a 1-0 lead in the first on an unearned run and they put together six runs on six hits and two errors for the 7-0 lead in the third inning. With two outs and runners on first and second, Barra hit a two-run RBI single up the middle. Cornelius followed with an RBI single to left field and she stole second. Rose Dovi (Cortland) singled down the left line and advanced to second on the throw, while Cornelius scored. With runners on second and third and still two outs, Barcavage doubled to left center to score the final two runs.
Geneseo tallied one run in the fifth and sixth inning to complete the scoring at 7-2 before the game was called due to darkness.
The Hawks return to action tomorrow against SUNY Brockport at 1pm.
