Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SALISBURY, Md. – The State University of New York at New Paltz softball team was unable to find an answer for No. 11 Salisbury University, as the Hawks were swept on the second and final day of Salisbury's Sea Gull Classic at the SU Softball Field on Saturday. Salisbury won game one, 3-0, before winning, 9-2, in the nightcap.
 
With the losses, New Paltz drops to 1-3 overall and returns to action on Friday, March 18, when it takes on Bay Path College (9:30 a.m.) and Albright College (11:30 a.m.) at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. Salisbury rises to 10-3 with the wins and hosts Lynchburg College tomorrow in a 12 p.m. doubleheader.
 
Game 1: No. 11 Salisbury 3, New Paltz 0
 
New Paltz, which had two hits prior to the seventh inning, nearly reversed its fortunes in the final inning.
 
The seventh inning started with junior designated player Nicole DeCosta (Stormville, N.Y./John Jay-East Fishkill) singling through the left side, and once DeCosta reached base safely, sophomore Taylor Leonette (East Patchogue, N.Y./Bellport) came in to pinch run. After a strikeout and fielder's choice brought up two outs with just one runner on base, freshman second baseman Shannon Fee (Port Jefferson, N.Y./Earl L. Vandermeulen) singled to right field and freshman shortstop Taylor LaFrance (New Windsor, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) drew a hit by pitch to load the bases.
 
Salisbury, however, brought senior Annah Brittingham back into the circle for the next batter, and Brittingham battled back from a 2-1 count to record the game's final out by means of a swinging strikeout.
 
The Sea Gulls got on the board in the second inning, as a run came across on an error before sophomore right fielder LeAnne Collins drove in a run with a base hit to center field. Brittingham then ripped a solo home run to left-center field in the bottom of the third to make the score 3-0 in favor of Salisbury. The Hawks were unable to answer the Sea Gulls' offensive production, as Salisbury took game one, 3-0.
 
Four Hawks finished with a hit, while sophomore designated player/pitcher Annie Pietanza led the Sea Gulls with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.
 
Junior pitcher Taylor Corwin (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) threw well in the loss for New Paltz, allowing three runs (two earned) off seven hits and two walks. Brittingham earned the win for Salisbury, tossing 6 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out four.
 
Game 2: No. 11 Salisbury 9, New Paltz 2
 
Both teams waited until the seventh inning to provide the bulk of their offensive production, but the Sea Gulls scattered 16 hits in the game to come away with the doubleheader sweep.
 
Salisbury, which led 4-0 heading into the top of the seventh, plated five runs in the seventh. After an error brought in the first run of the inning, Brittingham and senior shortstop Kim Dorsey each plated two to push the Sea Gull advantage to 9-0. New Paltz countered in the home half of the inning, as junior right fielder Megan Carbia (Tomkins Cove, N.Y./North Rockland) singled and LaFrance worked a walk before junior center fielder Fallon Spriggs (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) drove in both runners with a double down the left-field line. Salisbury was able to force a groundout to the next batter to seal the 9-2 victory.
 
Spriggs served as the New Paltz offense's sparkplug, going 3-for-3 with two RBI, a double and a stolen base. DeCosta also notched multiple hits, going 2-for-4. Brittingham paced the Sea Gull attack by going 4-for-5 with two RBI and a stolen base.
 
Senior pitcher Katie Rutcofsky (Plainview, N.Y./Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy) drew the start in the circle for the Hawks and shouldered the loss, working 6 1/3 innings. Freshman pitcher Brooke Mizelle picked up the win for Salisbury, scattering five hits and striking out eight across 6 1/3 scoreless innings of work.