NEW PALTZ, NY- The New Paltz softball team earned a hard fought split this afternoon with the Red Dragons of Oneonta on Mary Gray Dean Field. The Red Dragons edged out the Hawks in game one, 3-2, but the scored three runs in the second and third innings of game two for a 6-4 victory. The Hawks will return to the field on Friday, April 16th at Plattsburgh starting at 3:00 pm.
In game one, Oneonta quickly put two on the board when Katie Hackenburg singled up the middle scoring Sam Voncina from second base. The very next pitch, Jackie Liebowitz doubled into the left center gap scoring Hackenburg from second for the early 2-0 lead.
The Hawks would cut the lead in half in the bottom of the first after leadoff hitter Jillian Gallagher singled and stole second two pitches later. After a passed ball, Gallagher moved up to third and it made the count full to Victoria Kyle. The next pitch, Kyle hit a dribbler to the pitcher, allowing the speedy Gallagher to score from third to cut the lead to 2-1.
The Hawks were able to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth after holding the Red Dragons to just four hits over the next four innings. With two outs in the inning, Elizabeth May ripped a triple off the right field wall and would score on a Gallagher single.
In the top of the seventh, Abby Pierce was hit-by-pitch to start the inning off and would later score on a Jillian Serraro single, giving the Red Dragons a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
The Hawks tried to rally when Dale Cornelius drew a two out walk. Next batter, Erin Fitzpatrick roped a line-drive down the left field line, but it was foul and Jessica Iuliano was able to get Fitzpatrick out to end the game.
Gallagher finished 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI and May was 1-for-2 with one run. Fitzpatrick also added one hit for the Hawks.
Gallagher (3-1) suffered the loss on the mound, pitching the final three and two third innings and allowing one run on one hit and striking out one.
Hackenburg finished 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI and Serraro finished 2-for-4 with an RBI for Oneonta.
Iuliano (4-4) earned her fourth victory on the mound as she allowed two runs on four hits and struck out four.
In the nightcap, Oneonta score one in the first and two in the second for a 3-0 lead. In the first, Serraro ripped a two out double into the left center field gap and would advance on a pass ball and would score on a wild pitch. In the second, after loading the bases with one out, Alyssa Oliva got Voncina to ground back to her for the second out at home. The next batter, Meg Beditz hit a two-run single up the middle scoring Stacey Donald and Pierce.
The Hawks would notch the score in the second with three runs of their own. Samantha Barra led the inning off with a single and Melyssa Cilmi doubled two pitches later advancing Barra to third. After a pop-up, walk by May and a strike out, Jenna Curcio came to the plate with bases loaded and two outs. Curcio sent a high fly ball to left field and the left fielder was unable to make the catch due to the high winds, allowing a base clearing double for Curcio.
The Hawks did not stop there as they put up another three spot in the third. Rose Dovi started the Hawks off with a one out double and Barra would follow with a fielder's choice. The next batter, Cilmi ripped a double off the left field wall, scoring Dovi from second and advancing Barra to third. Melissa Liotta gave the Hawks their fifth run of the game on a sacrifice fly, scoring Barra from third. Cilmi gave the Hawks a 6-3 lead after scoring on a wild pitch.
In the sixth, Voncina led the inning off with a solo homerun, but that is all Oliva would give up to Oneonta, as the Hawks held on for the 6-4 victory.
Gallagher was solid again; finishing 2-for-3 and Cilmi was 2-for-2 with two doubles, two runs and an RBI. Curcio added one hit and three RBI and Barra had one hit and two runs for the Hawks.
Oliva went the distance, tossing a complete game eight hitter. She allowed four runs and struck out three on the evening, to improve to 4-2 on the mound.
Voncina finished 2-for-5 with one run and one RBI and Aly Helstrom was 2-for-2 with two walks. Beditz added her only hit with a two-run single and Liebowitz also added a hit.
Jessica Bartalsky (5-3) suffered the loss on the mound, as she allowed six runs on nine hits while striking out six.
