Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Clermont, FL  — The State University of New York at New Paltz softball team's undefeated streak came to an end Wednesday, but not without a fight.
 
The Hawks (7-1) battled through nine innings of softball against Benedictine University (Illinois), with the score tied at two for most of the game until a four-run ninth pushed the Eagles (7-2) past SUNY New Paltz, 6-2. The Hawks bounced back, however, earning a 9-0 five-inning win over D'Youville College.
 
"We came out a little flat today and definitely didn't have our normal energy and it showed throughout the game," said SUNY New Paltz coach Krysti Maronski. "We just didn't make adjustments at the plate and it hurt us. After the game we just talked about moving on and letting go. We had another game to focus on and put all of our energy in to."
Benedictine scored a run in the first and fourth innings to take a slight, 2-0 advantage entering the sixth inning. However, the Hawks climbed back into the game with two runs in the sixth with Shannon Fee and Ashley Puig both touching home. Caroline Alicandri earned an RBI in the inning with a base hit.

SUNY New Paltz's offense stalled there, while the Eagles started a productive and game-deciding ninth inning by getting two on after an error and a base hit. Katie Quagliana, who came in to pitch the last five innings in relief of Emily Fox, registered a ground out and a put out to short for the first two outs of the inning. However, Benedictine delivered with an RBI single to bring home a run, and piled on three more from there with two more hits.
 
"We had chances to score against Benedictine all game and just could not capitalize," Maronski said. "Credit to them, they made all the defensive plays and got us to chase her pitches at the plate."
 
The Hawks shook off the tough loss and came out strong to start their second game of the day. Taylor LaFrance registered the first run of the contest in the first inning, and SUNY New Paltz piled on with six more runs in a dominating third inning.
 
LaFrance, Puig, Shannon Fee, Kelsey Trudden, Caroline Alicandri and Julia DiSpigna all scored in the inning with Puig picking up two of her three RBI's with a double. Trudden also added an RBI base hit, while Alyssa Pfitscher, who got the start in the circle, helped her own cause with a two RBI base hit in the inning.
 
SUNY New Paltz then scored two more in the fifth to end the game there and register its third shut out of the season.
 
Pfitscher threw a complete game shutout, giving up just one hit, which came in the fifth inning with two outs to ruin the no-hit bid. She walked just one, while registering six strikeouts to earn her second win of the season.
 "All of our pitchers have been throwing very well," Maronski said. "We still have a few things to continue to work on, but overall they have been doing great and I know they will continue to learn the game and get better."
 
LaFrance continues to lead her team, as she recorded a team-high four hits in the two games, going 4-for-6 at the plate with a run and a walk. Puig also had a productive afternoon, going 3-for-5 with three RBI's and two runs scored, while Fee added two runs and a walk, while going 3-for-7 at the plate.
 
The Hawks finish up their Florida trip at the PFX Spring Games Thursday against Manchester University and Rutgers University-Newark at 9:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m., respectively, before coming back home for their home opener March 27.
 
"I would like us to finish this trip on a high note on Friday," Maronski said. "I hope to see them doing the little things right and taking a better approach at the plate."

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