After two crushing losses to the Plattsburgh State Cardinals on Saturday, April 2, the New Paltz Softball Team turned the scoreboard around last Sunday, defeating the SUNY Potsdam Bears in a double-header. Our Lady Hawks controlled the entirety of both games, winning 18-5 and 11-0, respectively.
The first game started off strong, in the first inning alone, our Lady Hawks put up five runs. First-year second baseman Jackie Rometo and fourth-year pitcher Katie Quagliana were the first two runs, brought in by third-year catcher Jessica Graepel. Fourth-year left-fielder Carol Ann Campsey singled, pushing Graepel to advance to third. Following that, first-year right-fielder Nicole Greco had an RBI out to first, bringing Graepel home and the score up to 3-0.
The last two runs of this inning were brought in by third-year third-baseman Madison Maggs and center-fielder Sydney Bonewit, making the score 5-0.
In the top of the second, our Lady Hawks added more runs to the scoreboard. Quagliana singled up the middle allowing second-year first-baseman Jillian Shelbourne to double to right-center and bring her home. Greco followed suit with a hit to second base, gaining another RBI with Shelbourn scoring.
The hits kept on coming in during the top of the third, especially with the fierceness and momentum starting with Bonewit’s push as she singled to right field and stole second. Second-year shortstop Rhionna Bianchini doubled to the opposite left field, allowing for Bonewit to come home in the clear.
Campsey stepped up to the plate later in the third, blasting the ball way past left field and gaining another two RBIs, upping the score to 12-0.
The Bears tried to get the momentum going in the bottom of the third, but couldn’t quite keep up with our Lady Hawks. Second-year pitcher Lindsay Roman only allowed two runs to be added from the Bears, unfortunately unable to keep the shut-out intact.
No matter though, because by the time the fifth inning rolled around, pinch hitters really stepped up to the plate for New Paltz. Second-year center-fielder Isabella Shepherd hit for Bonewit and singled up the middle, allowing fourth-year third-baseman Julia Mastrup to increase the score 15-2. Fourth-year pitcher Jillian Harrison then was the pinch hitter for Bianchini, singling to right field and allowing Shelbourne to advance to third. For the first game that Sunday, the Lady Hawks run-ruled the Potsdam Bears into the ground, 18-2.
The second game, back at Maxcy Softball Field a few hours later, was no different as the Lady Hawks sent the Bears back into hibernation with a 11-0 dominant win. The Lady Hawks increased their overall record 13-9 and their SUNYAC record to 2-2.
Rometo, this week’s SUNYAC/PrestoSports Athlete of the Week, had the most hits and RBIs during this match-up, four and five, respectively. She tied with Quagliana for the most at-bats with five, as Campsey and Graepel tied for second with four at-bats. Rometo, Campsey and Greco all had one double, and Greco was the only one with a triple.
The Hawks will take on Fredonia on Monday, April 11.
