The softball team faced a pair of State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) opponents as they played doubleheaders against Buffalo State on Friday, April 17 and then SUNY Fredonia the next day.
The Hawks lost both games against Buffalo State.
In the first game, the Hawks lost by a score of 8-0. First-year outfielder Danielle Bruno got the lone hit for the Hawks in the matchup. The Hawks committed five errors and the Bengals took advantage, as they scored four unearned runs.
The Hawks lost the second game by a score of 4-3. They were ahead, 3-1, in the third inning before the Bengals scored three runs and took the lead in the fourth inning. Hawks fourth-year outfielder Juliette Verso and second-year co-Captain Kiersten Carlomagno notched two hits and also knocked in a run. Fourth-year co-Captain Meg Brewer and third-year outfielder Fallon Spriggs also contributed an RBI each for the Hawks.
All four runs were charged to Hawks fourth-year pitcher Erika Traina whose record now stands at 3-2. Second-year pitcher Taylor Corwin pitched two and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief, surrendering just three hits and striking out two batters.
The Hawks lost their first game against SUNY Fredonia on Saturday, April 18 by a score of 4-2.
Third-year third baseman Nicole DeCosta was the lone Hawk with a multi-hit game, as she went 2-for-3 on the day. First-year first baseman and pitcher Lauren Cappello and third-year co-Captain Jordan Fiore knocked in the Hawks’ two runs.
Brewer recorded just one out and let up three runs to the Blue Devils in the first inning. After the outing, Brewer’s ERA increased from 2.55 to 3.71. Third-year pitcher Katie Rutcofsky pitched five and two-thirds innings in relief, allowing just one run while striking out three.
Later that day, the Hawks concluded their weekend with a 13-6 victory against the Blue Devils. The win bumped the team’s record up to 14-11 and 6-4 in conference play. The Hawks tallied 22 hits in the game.
Four Hawks recorded four hits in the game — Spriggs, Brewer, DeCosta and first-year outfielder Julia Perhacs. DeCosta and fourth-year co-Captain Shayna Burgess led the team with three RBIs each. Rutcofsky picked up the win in relief and improved her record to 8-3.
Head Coach Brittany Robinson was very pleased with the way her team played this weekend.
“I believe that we hit extremely well in the last game against Fredonia, and we had some solid pitching performances even in our losses,” she said. “I believe that if we can continue to pitch well enough and our bats stay consistent we will be in good shape heading towards playoffs.”
On Tuesday, April 21, the Hawks won both games in a doubleheader against SUNY Oswego.
Game one saw the Hawks win 4-3 in 10 innings.
In the nightcap, the Hawks won 5-1.
The following day, April 22, the Hawks dropped both games in a doubleheader against SUNY Cortland.
In the first game, the Hawks fell 3-2. The following game ended in a 5-1 Red Dragons win.
The Hawks currently sit as the sixth seed in the SUNYAC conference. The top six teams in the conference advance to the playoffs. They have a 16-13 overall record and 8-6 conference record.
Burgess said the Hawks would not only like to make the playoffs, but secure as high of a seed in the playoffs as possible.
“In order to reach the playoffs, we must jump on our competition early and often during our games,” Burgess said. “It is essential for us to win this week and secure playoffs with a good placement. The higher the placement, the better.”
The Hawks will play six games at home to finish their regular season, starting with a doubleheader against SUNY Geneseo on Friday, April 24. Geneseo currently sits in second place among the SUNYAC conference.