Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Wisconsin-Superior Box Score
Bowdoin Box Score

CLERMONT, Fla. – The State University of New York at New Paltz softball team (2-7) split doubleheader non-conference action in Florida on Wednesday, defeating the University of Wisconsin-Superior (4-6) in nine innings by a 9-7 margin before losing to Bowdoin College (10-2), 9-2.

In game one against Wisconsin-Superior, the Hawks found themselves in a seesaw battle with the Yellowjackets. The game saw seven lead changes as the two teams jockeyed for the mid-morning victory.

New Paltz struck first in the top of the second inning, as freshman left fielder Shayna Burgess (Smithtown, N.Y./Commack) knocked in senior second baseman Shelby Martin (New Paltz, N.Y./New Paltz) after she led off the inning with a double. Wisconsin-Superior rallied in the bottom-half of the stanza to take a 3-1 lead, taking advantage of three Hawk errors.

In the top of the third, New Paltz evened the score at three-all. A base knock by Martin scored freshman right fielder Marissa Monaco (Bohemia, N.Y./Connetquot) before a wild pitch by Yellowjacket starter Amanda Le Bard allowed freshman Alex Verso (Commack, N.Y./Commack), pinch running for Martin, to tie the game.

The teams exchanged two-run outbursts in the fourth inning. Wisconsin-Superior scored next in the sixth inning, making New Paltz come to the plate in the seventh inning for last licks, down one run. After a Martin fly-out, a single by sophomore first baseman Chelsea Kull (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor) gave the Hawks life. Senior Kristen Schork (Warwick, N.Y./Warwick Valley) pinch ran for Kull and immediately advanced to second base on a wild pitch and then third base on a passed ball. She scored on an error by the Yellowjackets' second baseman, sending the game to extra innings with the score knotted at 6-6.

Both teams plated their runner placed on second base in the first extra inning. Play continued into the top of the ninth, with New Paltz placing Monaco on second base to start the inning. Monaco scored on an error by the Wisconsin-Superior catcher, also allowing senior third baseman Samantha Barra (Islip, N.Y./Islip) to reach base and advance to second. After a wild pitch advanced freshman pinch runner Meg Brewer (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) to third, she scored on a sacrifice fly by Martin. The Yellowjackets were unable to respond in their half of the inning, giving New Paltz a 9-7 victory.

Monaco and Martin each went 3-for-4 in game one. Monaco added two runs scored and a RBI, while Martin knocked in three runs and scored one of her own. Burgess hit 2-for-4 in the opener with a RBI.

Junior pitcher Alyssa Oliva (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) earned the Hawk victory in five innings of relief work, allowing three hits and two runs (one earned) and striking out three batters. Freshman starting pitcher Erika Traina (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) went four innings, giving up four hits and five runs (two earned), also striking out three. Lindsay Garay took the loss for the Yellowjackets after throwing 5.2 relief innings and allowing four unearned runs.

In game two against the Polar Bears, the Hawks did not catch as many breaks. Freshman second baseman Emily Mouillesseaux (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) scored the only two New Paltz runs of the afternoon, once in the third inning and once in the fifth. Her second run scored courtesy of a Monaco sacrifice fly.

Bowdoin put the game away by scoring seven runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings combined, assisted by five Hawk errors. Junior pitcher Amber Carozza (Milton, N.Y./Marlboro) and Oliva combined to take the loss, allowing a total of 10 hits in the seven-inning affair. Nancy Walker earned the victory for the Polar Bears, limiting the Hawks to only three hits.

New Paltz finishes its stretch in Clermont with a tripleheader on Thursday. The Hawks take on Trinity College at 9 a.m. After a short break, the Hawks then face Babson College at 1 p.m., followed by Wesleyan University at 3 p.m.