NEW PALTZ, NY- The New Paltz softball team came up short in a doubleheader against nationally ranked #9 Cortland State Red Dragons Saturday afternoon on the Mary Gray Deane Field.  Cortland slipped past the Hawks in game one by the score of 1-0 and in game two 7-5.

In game one, Erin Fitzpatrick was 1-for-2 for the Hawks and Courtney Costello pitched a complete game.  She allowed one run, one earned, on seven hits and striking out one.

Emily Ringen was 3-for-3 for the Red Dragons and Donnalyn Cross was 2-for-4 with a run scored.  Katie Finch pitched a complete game one hitter to improve to 8-2 on the mound.

In game two, the Hawks jumped out early in the first inning scoring four runs.  Jillian Gallagher started the game off with an infield single and Victoria Kyle followed with a fielder's choice to move Gallagher to second.  Gallagher would steal third three pitchers later and Melyssa Cilmi walked to load the bases for Rose Dovi.  Dovi had an RBI walk to give the Hawks the 1-0 lead.  Melissa Liotta followed with another bases loaded walk for a 2-0 lead.  After a double play, Dale Cornelius lined a two run single up the middle to give the Hawks a 4-0 lead.

In the top of the fifth, Cortland cut into the Hawk lead with three runs.  With the bases loaded, Emily Ringen ripped a base clearing double scoring Brooke Weidman, Tara Donnino and Danielle Groneman.

The Hawks would get one back in the bottom of the sixth when Cornelius scored off an error by the first baseman on a Kyle dribble in between the pitcher and first base. 

In the top of the seventh, the Red Dragons had four cross the plate to take a 7-5 lead, led by a Cassie Kardias three-run homerun over the left field fence.

Gallagher finished the game 3-for-4 and Cornelius was 2-for-2 with a run scored and two RBI.  Kyle, Cilmi and Samantha Barra all had one hit for the Hawks.

Costello recorded the loss on the mound, allowing four runs on five hits in two and a third innings.  Starter Alyssa Oliva pitched four and two thirds allowing three runs on three hits for the no-decision.

Finch recorded the win on the mound, pitching the final three innings, allowing one run on one hit and striking out three.  Starter Lyndsay Rowell allowed four runs on seven hits and walked four batter in four innings of work.