Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Hoboken, NJ – The State University of New York at New Paltz softball team opened up its 2019 campaign with two hard fought wins on the road against Stevens Institute of Technology, earning 4-2 and 8-4 victories, respectively.

"I am very proud of this group and how they never got down today and continued to push through every inning," said Hawks coach Kyrsti Marnoski. "When the energy was good we were a completely different team and we need to continue to work on that moving forward."

Freshman pitcher Katie Quagliana had a standout series, coming in for her first collegiate action and picking up two victories in her debut. The East Amherst, NY native finished the day with six strikeouts, while giving up just six hits and one run in 9.1 innings pitched to earn an astounding 0.75 ERA. 

"Katie was great on the mound," Maronski said. "She had a great presence, was getting ahead in her counts and keeping batters off balance. I was very happy with her composure.

The Hawks (2-0 overall) didn't take long to get on the board, as they loaded the bases with Julia DiSpigna, Shannon Fee and Kelsey Truden with one out to start the game. Celia Santini was patient at the plate, taking a walk to help push DiSpigna home for the game's first run. Fee then was brought home after a wild pitch thrown by Stevens' Marissa Cappello.

The Ducks (0-2) earned a run back in the bottom of the inning, as Madison Gemma doubled up the middle to score Katie Tirabassi from second.

Samantha Schattin tied the game up at two in the bottom of the third inning, scoring off a wild pitch by SUNY New Paltz's Alyssa Pfitscher. Another wild pitch pushed a Ducks runner home once again and the score quickly was tied at three.

Quagliana relieved Pfitscher on the mound and finished out the game, giving up just one hit with two strikeouts in 4.2 innings pitched.

Taylor LaFrance stepped up to the plate in the top of the fourth with runners on, and delivered for the Hawks. She rifled a shot to left field, scoring Caroline Alicandri and Ashley Puig to push her team ahead, 4-2.

Emily Fox earned the start for SUNY New Paltz in the second game of the double header, and gave up a run after the first inning. The team quickly made up ground, however, as Michaela Damore knocked an RBI single to score Trudden to tie the game at one. Ashley Puig helped tack on another for the Hawks, scoring Damore on a single to right.

The Ducks answered in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead, but Damore again came in clutch to score Carol Ann Campsey with an RBI single to right field for SUNY New Paltz. With a tight game headed into the seventh inning, the Hawks finally broke the game open. Madison Rappold got the rally started with a single up the middle to lead off the top of the inning. Nicole DePaola came in to pinch run and landed at second after a ground out by Damore, but then put herself in scoring position after stealing third. After Puig and LaFrance were both hit by pitches, the Hawks had a prime opportunity to extend their cushion. DiSpigna was patient at the plate and earned a walk to bring DePaola home. Santini and Trudden then stepped up with back-to-back two RBI singles to push SUNY New Paltz's lead to 8-3, all but sealing the game.

"The seventh inning of the second game was very exciting, as we had so many different people come through," Maronski said. "Up and down the lineup today we were able to make adjustments between bats and get better. Everyone really contributed."

Rappold (3-4), Puig (3-5), LaFrance (3-7) and Trudden (3-7) led SUNY New Paltz with three hits apiece. Puig also finished with two runs and an RBI, while LaFrance and Trudden each chipped in with two RBI's on the day. Santini led the team with three RBI's, while going 1-for-6 with a walk and a run scored.

After a solid start to the season, the Hawks travel to Florida to compete in the PFX Spring Games in Orlando starting Saturday. Until then, they'll enjoy their two-game winning streak, which also gave first-year coach Maronski her first two collegiate coaching victories.

"It feels amazing to win the first two victories of my career and even better with this team," she said.  

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