Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SALISBURY, Md. – The State University of New York at New Paltz softball team lost twice on the second and final day of the Salisbury Tournament on Saturday at SU Softball Field, falling to Capital University, 12-8, before dropping a 12-2 decision in five innings to No. 3 Salisbury University.
 
The Hawks drop to 1-7 overall with the losses and next face non-conference Wilkes University on Sunday, March 23, on the road in a 1 p.m. doubleheader. Capital moves to 8-4 overall and next visits Transylvania University on Thursday, March 20, for a 3:30 p.m. twinbill, while Salisbury advances to 14-0 overall and next travels to Christopher Newport University for a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Sunday, March 23.
 
Capital 12, New Paltz 8
 
New Paltz saw a 5-2 lead evaporate in its first game of the day against Capital, as the Crusaders plated one run in the fourth and one run in the fifth to set the stage for an eight-run sixth.
 
Sophomore third baseman Katlyn Simpson kicked off scoring in the first for Capital, plating two runs off a triple. The Hawks countered with four runs in the second, as sophomore pinch hitter Nicole DeCosta (Stormville, N.Y./John Jay) drove in two runs off a single to left and junior catcher Shayna Burgess (Smithtown, N.Y./Commack) brought in two with a single up the middle. Sophomore shortstop Jordan Fiore (Mount Sinai, N.Y./Mount Sinai) gave New Paltz a 5-2 lead in the third, as she plated a run off a single to the pitcher.
 
After scoring two runs across the fourth and fifth innings to pull within two at 5-4, Capital's sophomore shortstop Therese Becker plated the go-ahead run, driving in two base runners with a double to left center. The Crusaders went on to score six more runs in that inning to break open a 12-5 advantage.
 
New Paltz scored the final three runs of the game, with senior first baseman Chelsea Kull (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor) pushing across two with a single up the middle in the sixth and junior designated player Erika Traina (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) driving in a run off a single to left field in the seventh.
 
Sophomore pitcher Katie Rutcofsky (Plainview, N.Y./Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy) was tagged with the loss, giving up eight runs off 11 hits while striking out five in five innings of work. Capital's junior pitcher Brooke Billings earned the win in relief, yielding four runs (three earned) off 10 hits while striking out three in 5 1/3 innings of duty.
 
Traina led the Hawk attack with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, which included a run scored and an RBI. Junior third baseman Meg Brewer (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point), freshman second baseman Kiersten Carlomagno (Commack, N.Y./Commack) and junior Noelle Grande (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) also had multi-hit games for New Paltz.
 
For Capital, Simpson went 3-for-5 with three RBI, a run scored, a triple and a stolen base, while junior left fielder LeAnna Cotton batted 3-for-5 with one RBI, one run scored and a home run. Freshman catcher Kat Boyer also had a three-hit performance, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base.
 
No. 3 Salisbury 12, New Paltz 2 (5 innings)
 
The Sea Gulls broke out for 17 hits in the nightcap, scoring 12 runs en route to forcing the eight-run rule after the Hawks batted in the top of the fifth.
 
Salisbury scored four runs in the first, one run in the second and four runs in the third to take a 9-0 lead. The Hawks reached the scoreboard in the fourth with two runs—their first of the weekend against Salisbury, as the two teams also played to a 6-0 Sea Gull verdict yesterday. Traina was responsible for New Paltz's offensive production in the fourth, as she blasted a two-run home run to left field to draw the Hawks within seven. The Sea Gulls were not done scoring, though, as sophomore shortstop Kim Dorsey countered with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth to spell out the final score of 12-2.
 
Rutcofsky once again shouldered the loss, working one inning and allowing four runs off five hits and one walk. Senior pitcher Kathryn Larson earned the win in the circle for Salisbury, allowing two runs off four hits and a walk while striking out two in four innings of duty.
 
Traina keyed the Hawk attack with a 2-for-2 outing at the plate, tallying two RBI, one run scored and a home run.
 
Salisbury received offensive production from top to bottom, with Dorsey's 3-for-4 performance leading the way. Dorsey was a triple shy of the cycle, as she had a single, a double and a home run in addition to scoring four runs and recording four RBI.