Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

DANBURY, Conn. – The State University of New York at New Paltz softball squad enjoyed a sweep of host Western Connecticut State on Wednesday evening, defeating the Colonials 7-6 in game one before taking game two, 3-0, at Westside Field.

With the two non-conference wins, New Paltz improves to 9-13 overall and will prepare to host SUNYAC foes, Geneseo and Brockport this weekend from April 14-15. Saturday, April 15 will serve as Senior Day as well as Alumni Appreciation Day. Western Connecticut, meanwhile, moves to .500 at 10-10.

Game One: New Paltz 7, West Conn 6
The Hawks enjoyed a six-run sixth inning and held off a late rally by the Colonials to take the opener.

Overall, New Paltz pounded eight hits as sophomore Taylor LaFrance (New Windsor, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) led the bats with a 3-for-4 showing. Junior Lauren Cappello (New City, N.Y./Albertus Magnus) had a big outing, going 2-for-4 with three RBI.

Freshman Kelsey Trudden (Broad Channel, N.Y./The Mary Louis Academy) also provided two RBI in the game one win.

Following a solo homer by West Conn in the second, the Hawks knotted the game up at 1-1 following a sacrifice fly by Trudden, which scored Cappello in the fourth.

Again the Colonials took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to go ahead 3-1.

New Paltz would then explode for six runs in the sixth frame. Trudden came through with an RBI single down the right field line, junior Taylor Leonette (East Patchogue, N.Y./Bellport) laid down an RBI bunt single, LaFrance enjoyed a run-scoring single through the right side and Cappello capped off the crooked inning with a three-run bases clearing triple to right center as the Hawks claimed a 7-3 edge.

West Conn rallied with a three-run homer in the sixth but New Paltz was able to hold on.

Cappello also earned the win in the circle, going the distance while giving up five hits and striking out six for her seventh victory this spring.

Game Two: New Paltz 3, West Conn 0
The Hawks tallied two runs in the fourth and one run in the fifth to complete the scoring.

Cappello ripped an RBI double to left center in the fourth and junior Julia Perhacs (Robbinsville, N.J./Robbinsville) followed by reaching on an error by the shortstop, which scored Cappello, as the Hawks took a 2-0 cushion.

Senior Fallon Spriggs (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) came through with an RBI sacrifice bunt in the fifth, which plated Leonette, to complete the offense.

Senior Kiersten Carlomagno (Commack, N.Y./Commack) earned the win, going all seven innings for the complete game shutout, scattering just three hits while punching out six Colonials.