Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Heading into Saturday with an undefeated State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) record, the State University of New York at New Paltz softball team (10-12, 4-2 SUNYAC) ran into standout pitching, as SUNY Plattsburgh (16-5, 7-1 SUNYAC) downed the Hawks, 4-3, in eight innings before completing the sweep with an 11-2 win in six frames.

In game one, Plattsburgh struck first with three runs in the second, but New Paltz leveled the tally in the top of the third with RBI hits by freshman center fielder Shayna Burgess (Smithtown, N.Y./Commack), senior designated player Samantha Barra (Islip, N.Y./Islip) and senior third baseman Shelby Martin (New Paltz, N.Y./New Paltz). Neither team was able to send anyone across in the middle innings, and with the score still tied after seven frames, the two teams went into extra innings.

Martin singled to left field for New Paltz in the top of the eighth, and junior Andrea Feeney (Ulster Park, N.Y./Kingston) pinch ran for her. Feeney then stole second, putting a runner in scoring position with one out. Ashley Marshall was able to strike out the final two batters to give the Cardinals a chance to win the game. After Erin Florkiewicz tripled to right field to lead off the bottom of the inning, the Hawks intentionally walked the next two batters. After inducing a pop up, Allison Smiddy laced a walk-off single to center field for the win.

Both pitching decisions came out of the bullpen. Junior pitcher Alyssa Oliva (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) was tagged with the loss, working six innings in the circle for New Paltz. She gave up one run off five hits and eight walks. Junior pitcher Amber Carozza (Milton, N.Y./Marlboro) did not earn a decision, as she yielded three runs—two of which were earned—off three hits and two walks while striking out one. Ashley Marshall moved to 10-2 on the season win the win for Plattsburgh, as she tossed 1 2/3 innings. Marshall gave up just one hit and struck out five. Heather Loughran drew the start for the Cardinals and worked 6 1/3 innings, permitting three runs off five hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch while also striking out five.

Martin paced the Hawk attack with a 2-for-4 performance that included an RBI, while Florkiewicz and Dana Mandery went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI and 2-for-3 with one run scored, respectively, for Plattsburgh.

After the first inning of game two, things looked up for New Paltz. Senior first baseman Cassie Barcavage (Cold Spring, N.Y./Haldane) and freshman right fielder Marissa Monaco (Bohemia, N.Y./Connetquot) hit RBI singles in the top half of the first to give the Hawks a 2-0 edge, which it held heading into the bottom of the third. Plattsburgh, however, scored three runs in the third, three in the fourth, two in the fifth and three in the sixth to enact the eight-run rule.

Freshman pitcher Meg Brewer (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) suffered the loss, going 3 2/3 frames. She allowed six runs—four of which were earned—off six hits and one hit-by-pitch while striking out one. Freshman pitcher Erika Traina (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) took over for the final two frames and gave up five runs—four of which were earned—on two hits and two walks while striking out two. Marshall was credited with her second win of the day, as she hurled a full six innings in the circle for Plattsburgh, yielding two runs off five hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch while striking out five.

Junior shortstop Melissa Liotta (Brentwood, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) had the lone multi-hit outing for the Hawks, as she went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a double. Florkiewicz (3-for-3) Brittany Marshall (2-for-4) and Brianna Clarke (2-for-4) all notched more than one hit for the Cardinals.

New Paltz travels out of state on Wednesday, April 11, as it takes on Western Connecticut State University at 4:30 p.m. in a non-conference doubleheader.