Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Clermont, FL — The bats started picking up for the State University of New York at New Paltz softball team Thursday in its opening game of Day 4 of the PFX THE Spring Games Tournament.
 
After totaling 14 hits in its last four outings, the Hawks (5-7) notched eight hits off Worcester State University, propelling a 4-3 win.
 
"After our win yesterday our confidence was definitely up," said Hawks shortstop Katie Conrad, who went 3-for-6 on the day with an RBI. "We were able to hit more with a lot more clutch hits in clutch situations, which got us up early. And, we came through at the end when they started scoring and we were still up. We caught that win and it was pretty good."
 
SUNY New Paltz didn't waste time to get on the board, as Conrad and Taylor Leonette opened the game with back-to-back hits. Shannon Fee followed with a walk and Lauren Cappello gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead after knocking a deep shot to left field for the sacrifice fly.
 
Conrad added to SUNY New Paltz's lead in the next inning, driving in Julia DiSpigna — who got on after cranking a liner to left field — with an RBI double.
 
After not registering a hit in her last four games DiSpigna shook off her hitting slump Wednesday, recording two hits in a win against St. Lawrence University. The sophomore right fielder picked up where she left off Thursday, going 2-for-4 on the day with two runs, a walk and an RBI.
 
"Yeah, I feel like I'm out of my hitting slump," DiSpigna said. "Some swings are still not all there, but I am getting deeper into the count now, seeing more pitches and being able to time the pitcher better and make her pitch to me more."
 
The Lancers cut into the lead in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of a couple miscues by the Hawks in the field. Katie Polselli plated Worcester's first run with a bases loaded RBI single, but SUNY New Paltz senior pitcher Lauren Cappello got out of the jam, striking out the following batter to end the threat.
 
With runners on first and third, Shannon Fee helped the Hawks build on their lead in the top of the seventh, knocking an RBI single through the left side of the infield to score DiSpigna. Madison Rappold then extended the lead, 4-3, following her sacrifice ground out, which plated Leonette.
 
SUNY New Paltz needed the extra cushion going into the bottom of the seventh, as Worcester crept back in. With two on and two outs, Sydney Despres hit an RBI single up the middle to cut the score.
 
Alyssa Pfitscher then stepped in the circle to relieve Cappello, allowing another run before picking up the save on the 4-3 victory.
 
"I think we took care of our job a little bit better in terms of situational plays," said Hawks coach Samantha Miller. "I do still think that it's all the little things that are preventing us from being able to keep the other teams runs on the board. So when we're putting up one run games, or losing one run games, we have to look at defensively what is losing us those games."
 
Cappello earned the win for the Hawks, giving up five hits with two strikeouts in 6.2 innings.
 
"To get back-to-back wins I think that it's a real positive for our team," DiSpigna said. "It's giving us a lot more energy and a lot more confidence under our belt going into SUNYACs when we get back. I think everyone is having a lot more fun too, just being around the team and no one is at each other's throats. We're just playing as a team and being a lot more positive."
 
Following the victory, SUNY New Paltz took on Hope College (9-2) and registered five hits and again scored early in the bottom of the first.
 
After the Flying Dutchmen took the 2-0 lead in the top of the inning, Conrad got the bottom of the first started with a lead off bunt single. Two batters later Fee got on with a single to right and DiSpigna came through again, ripping a ball past the third base side to earn an RBI single.
 
"Putting a lineup together is always tough, especially when you have a lot of losses," Miller said. "As a coach you're always questioning yourself, what is the right lineup? But, I got with my gut and those kids that are coming through in situations they might be in a slump but it is only a matter of time."
 
Hope College tacked on six more in the top of the second and then really broke the game open in the top of the fourth inning, driving in six more to extend the lead, 14-1.
 
Emily Fox stepped in for Pfitscher, who got the start against the Flying Dutchmen, with one out in the fourth and finished the game for the Hawks. In 1.3 innings, Fox faced six batters and gave up just one hit with the Flying Dutchmen taking the 14-1 victory.
 
Following Conrad and DiSpigna offensively on the day was Leonette, who finished 3-for-6 with two runs.
 
The Hawks conclude their Florida trip Friday with games against University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Tufts University at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively, at Legends Field. Be sure to follow @nphawks on Twitter and @newpaltzhawks on Instagram and Facebook for updates, highlights, videos, photos and more.