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 (7-9, 2-0 SUNYAC) opened up State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play by doing something it had not done in more than a decade. The Hawks swept SUNY Oneonta (4-10, 0-2 SUNYAC) by scores of 4-3 and 9-5 in a league twinbill on Friday afternoon at Mary Gray Deane Field, marking the Hawks' first series sweep over the Red Dragons since the 1998 season.

On April 28, 1998, New Paltz blanked Oneonta, 2-0, in game one of a doubleheader before edging the Red Dragons, 12-11, in the nightcap.

New Paltz held off Oneonta in game one, as the Red Dragons crawled out of a 4-1 hole to make it a one-run game in the sixth. A single, error and walk loaded the bags for Oneonta in the sixth inning, and Nicole Marzillo singled up the middle to cut the lead to two. After the run came across, the Hawks brought freshman pitcher Erika Traina (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) out of the bullpen, who forced Laura Loudis to ground out. A run did score, though, pulling the Red Dragons within one. A ground out and a fly out wound up ending the frame, and New Paltz preserved its lead. Neither team was able to muster a hit the rest of the way in game one.

The Hawks opened scoring in the front end of the twinbill in the home half of the first. Freshman left fielder Noelle Grande (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) walked and junior shortstop Melissa Liotta (Brentwood, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) singled down the right-field line to put runners on first and third with one out. Grande came home on a passed ball, and freshman right fielder Marissa Monaco (Bohemia, N.Y./Connetquot) drew a walk in the ensuing at-bat to put two runners back on base. Freshman second baseman Emily Mouillesseaux (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) plated Liotta with a sacrifice fly to deep center field, but the Red Dragons were able to hold the Hawks in check the rest of the inning, as they did not allow any more runs.

Oneonta cut the Hawk advantage in half in the top of the second, but New Paltz tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth courtesy of a two-run single by senior designated player Samantha Barra (Islip, N.Y./Islip). That would give the Hawks enough cushion to sustain the Red Dragons' charge in the sixth.

Junior pitcher Amber Carozza (Milton, N.Y./Marlboro) got the start in the circle for New Paltz and lasted five innings, allowing three runs—one of which was earned—off five hits and two walks while striking out three. She also gained the victory and leveled her record to 3-3 for the season. Traina tossed two innings in relief and issued just one walk while striking out one, earning the save.

Kerry Leggett suffered the loss for Oneonta, yielding two runs—one of which was earned—off one hit and three walks in just two-thirds of an inning. Rachel Hitt hurled 5 1/3 innings in relief and scattered four hits while giving up two runs and a walk.

New Paltz gained multi-hit outings from Liotta (2-for-2, two runs scored) and Barra (2-for-2, two RBI) in game one, while Marzillo batted 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI for Oneonta.

A seven-run fourth propelled the Hawks to the game-two victory, as New Paltz showed discipline at the plate in the frame with four drawn walks and one absorbed hit-by-pitch.

The game appeared destined for a back-and-forth battle, as Oneonta struck first with an RBI double by Marzillo in the first inning, and New Paltz countered with Liotta running from second to home on a fielding error by the shortstop in the home half of the frame. Oneonta took a 2-1 lead—its first of the afternoon—in the fourth off an RBI single by Katie O'Flynn, but the Hawks pounded out four hits and scored seven runs in the fourth to blow the game open.

The Red Dragons scored twice in the fifth, but New Paltz added a run in the sixth off a Monaco single to right. Oneonta was able to push a run across via an illegal pitch in the seventh, but the visitors were unable to close the gap.

Freshman pitcher Meg Brewer (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) moved to 2-0 after lasting 4 2/3 innings in game two, permitting four runs off seven hits, three walks and a hit-by-pitch. Freshman pitcher Kayla Conover (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) took over in relief and worked 2 1/3 frames, yielding one run off a hit and four walks.

Oneonta used three pitchers, but O'Flynn was the one to take the loss, drawing the start and going three innings. She gave up five runs—four of which were earned—off four hits and a walk while striking out two.

Seven different Hawks notched a hit in game two, while Oneonta, which outhit New Paltz in the nightcap by an 8-to-7 margin, gained 2-for-4 performances from Marzillo and Brianna Rivera.

New Paltz looks to continue its winning ways on Wednesday, April 4, as it takes on Manhattanville College in a non-conference doubleheader. Game one is scheduled to commence at 3 p.m. at Mary Gray Deane Field.