Box Score

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz softball team (1-0) cruised to a 12-8 non-conference win over the College of Staten Island (0-1) in its 2013 season opener on Saturday. The second game of the twinbill was canceled due to inclement weather.

The victory marked head coach Tony Ciccarello's first as New Paltz's bench boss and his 259th career win.

It was a back-and-forth battle, as the Hawks squandered a 4-0 lead before ultimately providing the margin of victory in sixth and seventh innings.

In the second inning, sophomore catcher Shayna Burgess (Smithtown, N.Y./Commack) and sophomore left fielder Noelle Grande (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) each knocked in a pair of runs to open scoring, as New Paltz hopped out to a 4-0 lead. Brittany Smith pushed across an unearned run in the third before a two-run double by Jennie Hosty and an RBI single by Chyanne Gilliam pulled the score even at 4-all. The Dolphins finally gained the advantage in the fifth with an RBI single by Samantha Tallarine.

The Hawks erupted for three runs in the top of the sixth, as Burgess and sophomore right fielder Marissa Monaco (Bohemia, N.Y./Connetquot) each accounted for an RBI. Staten Island countered with an RBI groundout by Smith in the sixth, but New Paltz put the game out of reach in the top of the seventh with five runs. Freshman center fielder Jordan Fiore (Mount Sinai, N.Y./Mount Sinai) and Burgess each plated a run, doing so off a walk and a single, respectively, while Monaco pushed across three with a bases-clearing double to center field. Staten Island finished the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Burgess had a prolific offensive day for the Hawks, going 3-for-5 with four RBI and three runs scored. Monaco also ignited the attack with a 3-for-4 performance that included four RBI, while junior second baseman Emily Frawley (White Plains, N.Y./White Plains) went 3-for-4 and scored twice. Sophomore pitcher/third baseman Meg Brewer (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) and sophomore pitcher Erika Traina (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) also boasted multi-hit outings for New Paltz. For Staten Island, Smith (2-for-4, two RBI, one run scored), Tallarine (2-for-4, one RBI, one run scored) and Gilliam (2-for-3, one RBI, one run scored) keyed the offense.

Traina came out of the bullpen and earned the win for New Paltz, allowing four runs off three hits and a walk in 3 2/3 innings of work. Brewer lasted 3 1/3 innings, permitting four runs—three of which were earned—off six hits.

Victoria Procopio was saddled with the loss, going a full seven frames. She yielded 12 runs off 14 hits and six walks.

With New Paltz's doubleheader against Mount Saint Mary College canceled for tomorrow, the Hawks will next be in action at the NTC Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. They open their trip on Friday, March 22, against Macalester College (1 p.m.) and Plymouth State University (3 p.m.).