Box Score

CLERMONT, Fla. – The State University of New York at New Paltz softball team (1-0) opened its 2011 season with a 4-3 victory in eight innings over Tufts University (0-4) on Sunday morning at the NTC Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. The Hawks' 11:30 a.m. contest against Macalester College was canceled and will not be rescheduled.

Down three runs, New Paltz battled back, plating two runs in the fourth and fifth to make the score 3-2 in favor of Tufts. Senior pitcher/first baseman Jillian Gallagher (Buchanan, N.Y.) led off the bottom of the seventh with a single and stole second to get within scoring position. Sophomore second baseman Melissa Liotta's (Brentwood, N.Y.) sacrifice bunt moved Gallagher to third, and junior third baseman Samantha Barra (Islip, N.Y.) knocked her in with a single to tie the tally at 3-all. Despite having the winning run on third with two outs, the Hawks were unable to push across the runner, forcing extra innings.

With the international tie-breaker in effect in the eighth, the Hawks took advantage, as freshman left fielder Melissa Kump (Glendale, N.Y.) moved sophomore pitcher Gillian Davidoff (Oceanside, N.Y.) to third via a sacrifice bunt, and junior center fielder Kristen Schork (Warwick, N.Y.) hit a walk-off single to end the ballgame.

Gallagher worked four innings in the circle for New Paltz, yielding three runs on four hits while striking out four. Davidoff pitched brilliantly in relief, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out four in four frames of duty. Being in the game during the Hawks' rally allowed her to be credited with the victory.

Aly Moskowitz did not earn a decision in the circle for the Jumbos, giving up three runs on eight hits while striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings of action. Izzie Santone was tagged with the loss after giving up the game-winning run on the only hit she allowed in one inning of work.

Barra and junior right fielder Victoria Holm (Floral Park, N.Y.) each went 2-for-4 with an RBI to pace the Hawk attack, while five different Tufts hitters collected a hit.

New Paltz returns to action tomorrow morning at the NTC Spring Games, taking on Carroll University at 9:30 a.m. followed by Hope College at 11:30 a.m.