PLATTSBURGH, NY- The New Paltz softball team earned a split this afternoon with Plattsburgh State Cardinals by the scores of 7-0 and 7-6 in the nightcap at Cardinal Park. The Hawks record now stands at 17-13 overall and 7-5 in the SUNYAC, while Plattsburgh is 19-12 overall and 8-5 in the SUNYAC. The Hawks will return to action tomorrow against Brockport at 3 p.m.
In game one, Ashley Marshall limited the Hawks to just three hits and struck out 14. Jillian Gallagher recorded the loss for the Hawks, allowing four runs on two hits and striking out five while walking four.
In the nightcap, the Hawks struck first in the first inning after Gallagher led the inning off with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Melissa Liotta. The next batter Melyssa Cilmi singled through the left side to score Gallagher and the 1-0 lead.
Plattsburgh took the lead, 3-1 in the second with three runs. Dana Mandery hit a two-run double into right center scoring Amy Woo and Melanie Boozel. The third run was on a Katie McNally RBI groundout to first base.
The Hawks tied the game at three in the third with two runs. Liotta and Cilmi hit back-to-back singles and Rose Dovi doubled into the left center field gap, scoring Liotta from second. Dovi would later score on an error by the shortstop off the bat of Victoria Kyle.
In the bottom of the inning, the Cardinals took the lead back when Erin Jamieson led the inning off with a double into right center and would score after stealing third and a muffed throw by the third baseman. The Cardinals tacked on another run in the sixth for a 5-3 lead when Nicole Diemer singled up the middle scoring Mandery from third.
The Hawks exploded for four runs in the top of the seventh to take a 7-5 lead. After back-to-back errors by the Cardinals, the Hawks had runners on the corners. Cilmi came to bat and ripped a two-run double into the left center field gap, scoring both Gallagher and Liotta. Dovi followed the double with an RBI single of her own and Dale Cornelius added an RBI groundout for the Hawks, which ended up being the game-winning run.
In the bottom of the seventh, Danielle Gjergji singled into center field scoring Jamieson from second after she led the inning off with a single and stole second. Alyssa Oliva buckled down and got Mandery swinging for the final out of the game.
Oliva earned her seventh win of the season, allowing three runs on five hits and struck out six and Gallagher allowed three runs, two earned, on one hit and struck out two in two innings.
Marshall took the loss for the Cardinals as she allowed four runs, one earned, on three hits and stuck out four. Starter Heather Loughran allowed three runs, two earned, on seven hits for the no-decision.
