Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz softball team (5-9) salvaged a split in a non-conference twinbill against Hudson Valley rival Mount Saint Mary College (6-10) on Wednesday afternoon in its 2012 home opener at Mary Gray Deane Field, winning 5-0 in game two after a 5-3 loss in game one.

Game one featured a virtuoso performance from Knight pitcher Caitlin Maynes, who surrendered three unearned runs and scattered six hits in the complete-game victory. She lasted seven innings and also struck out three. Junior pitcher Amber Carozza (Milton, N.Y./Marlboro) drew the start in the circle for the Hawks in the front end of the doubleheader and lasted 2 2/3 innings, yielding two runs off five hits while striking out one. Freshman pitcher Kayla Conover (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) shouldered the loss in relief, going four innings while giving up three runs off six hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Freshman pitcher Erika Traina (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) recorded the final out in the top of the seventh for New Paltz.

Mount Saint Mary got on the board in the second inning, as Maggie Boyd drove in two runs off a double before being tagged out at third. Maynes worked a no-hitter into the fourth, but an error by the left fielder extended the inning. Senior designated player Samantha Barra (Islip, N.Y./Islip) notched the Hawks' first hit with a single to center field. Sophomore first baseman Chelsea Kull (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor) drove in sophomore Emily Frawley (White Plains, N.Y./White Plains), who pinch ran for Barra, with a single up the middle, and freshman second baseman Emily Mouillesseaux (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) ripped a two-run double to left center before being retired at third for the final out of the frame. That inning gave New Paltz a 3-2 lead, which it clung to heading into the final stanza.

In the top of the seventh, Boyd struck out swinging and Danielle Orender flied out to right field, bringing New Paltz one out away from clinching the victory. Lacey Kehlenbeck and Maynes hit back-to-back singles before Danielle Soto smacked a bases-clearing double to give Mount Saint Mary the 4-3 lead. Ashley Peel plated Soto with a double to right center, which prompted Traina to come into the game to pitch for the Hawks. Traina forced a ground out to end the inning after throwing a wild pitch, giving New Paltz one final chance to even the score. Freshman Meg Brewer (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) had a pinch-hit single to first base with two outs, but she was unable to move any further, giving the Knights game one.

Six different Hawks had hits in game one of the twinbill, while Kehlenbeck (2-for-3, one run scored), Soto (2-for-4, two RBI, one run scored) and Stephanie Karcher (2-for-3, one run scored) had multi-hit performances for Mount Saint Mary.

It was a reversal of fortunes in game two, as Brewer threw a two-hit shutout in the circle for the Hawks. Brewer, who made her first career collegiate pitching appearance, lasted a full seven innings and struck out four while issuing one walk in the winning effort. Kerry Ulmer was tagged with the loss for Mount Saint Mary, giving up five runs—three of which were earned—off eight hits and two walks.

New Paltz stuffed the run column in the second, as senior first baseman Cassie Barcavage (Cold Spring, N.Y./Haldane) and Mouillesseaux singled and walked, respectively, to set the stage for a productive inning offensively for the Hawks. Brewer reached on a fielder's choice, but Barcavage came home on a throwing error by the second baseman to open scoring. Brewer put herself in scoring position by stealing second, and freshman left fielder Noelle Grande (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) doubled down the left-field line to swell the lead to two.

The Hawks did not strike again until the home half of the sixth, where they took advantage of three Knight defensive miscues en route to scoring three runs. Freshman Juliette Verso (Commack, N.Y./Commack), Emily Collazo and Mouillesseaux all scored for New Paltz during the frame, and it took a 5-0 edge into the seventh. The home team was able to retire the side in order in the top of the seventh, and the Hawks were able to split the doubleheader.

Once again, New Paltz relied on a balanced attack, with eight different players accounting for all eight of the team's hits in game two. The Knights pounded out just two hits, which came from Peel and Chelsea Hepburn.

The Hawks kick off State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action on Saturday, March 31, as they square off with SUNY Oneonta at 12 p.m. at Mary Gray Deane Field in a doubleheader.