A year ago, the State University of New York at New Paltz softball team went into its final regular season weekend with playoff hopes still alive. However, in four tough matchups on the road against SUNY Potsdam and Plattsburgh State the Hawks fumbled the opportunity, getting swept by the Bears and splitting with the Cardinals.
 
That infamous weekend still lingers in the Hawks' memories, as they enter their final home games of the 2019 season with the chance to further tighten their grasp on their first postseason appearance in two years. 
"It definitely adds extra ammunition for us going into these series, because Plattsburgh essentially took our spot in the playoffs and Potsdam swept us, which really eliminated us from the playoffs altogether," said SUNY New Paltz senior shortstop Taylor LaFrance. "But we never underestimate any opponent no matter what their record is going into it and no matter what our record is, so we're just going to make sure to go out there with our tightest defense and really get the bats going against both teams."
 
The Hawks (19-8 overall, 6-4 SUNYAC) will first take on the Bears (5-23, 0-12), who have yet to win a game in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) and are currently on a 16-game losing skid. They are coming off two losses against SUNY Oneonta April 13 where they scored just two runs on seven hits in the series.
 
SUNY Potsdam's five wins have come against non-conference competition in Becker College, Lasell College, Bridgewater State University, Loras College and Worcester State. Through its first 28 games, the Bears have averaged about three runs a contest, while allowing seven runs against and have been run-ruled in five innings eight times this season.
 
Senior Brooke Falsion leads the team at the plate, batting a team-best .400 in 85 at-bats, with a team-high 24 runs, 34 hits, including seven extra-base hits with six RBIs. Junior Megan Fish follows offensively, batting .376 with seven runs, 32 hits and a team-high 23 RBIs in 85 at-bats. Fish is also the Bears' best arm, recording a 4.24 ERA with seven complete games in 76 innings pitched.
 
The series against SUNY Potsdam will also serve as the Hawks' Senior Day, honoring graduating members Shannon Fee, Madison Rappold and Nicole DePaola. Not only does SUNY New Paltz want some redemption from last year's series, but also to earn a sweep in honor of its seniors as well.
 
"Mainly we just want to leave it all out there for our four seniors," LaFrance said. "Obviously, we're looking to take four, but we're just going to take it one game at a time. We're not going to underestimate our opponents and we're going to make sure we're giving our best effort, really getting our bats going and keeping our defense tight."  
Following the Hawks' series against the Bears, they'll face Plattsburgh State (11-13, 5-5) Tuesday. The Cardinals have won 5-of-10 in conference play with wins over Potsdam, Fredonia State, Buffalo State and SUNY Oneonta. When they head into Mary Gray Deanne Field Tuesday they will have played six games in eight days due to inclement weather putting a damper on their early-season SUNYAC schedule.
 
Plattsburgh State averages more than six runs per game, while conceding about eight runs against. Junior Haleigh Agans and senior Jennifer Groat leads the team offensively, batting .366 and .365, respectively. Agans in 71 at-bats has totaled 10 runs, 26 hits and 23 RBIs, while Groat in 74 at-bats has recorded a team-high 27 runs, 27 hits and 20 RBIs.
 
The Cardinals don't have any pitcher with less than a 4.34 ERA, but freshman Hannah Fuerst leads the team in wins, securing a 6-4 record.
 
SUNY New Paltz has gotten great outings from its starting pitching, backed by some solid defensively play, but has struggled at the plate as of late. In their latest SUNYAC series against SUNY Oneonta, the Hawks totaled just five hits and one run scored. They hope to put it all together this coming week in order to solidify their playoff standing.
 
"What we've been focusing on the last couple days in practice to get our bats going is our mental approach up at the plate and just focusing on being more confident, and attacking more early in the count," LaFrance said. "We have been struggling a bit with that, but with our tight defense and the way we've been practicing the last couple of days we'll be in really good shape."
 
SUNY New Paltz is set to face the Bears Monday for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. and then will take on the Cardinals for its home finale Tuesday, also slated for a 3 p.m. start at Mary Gray Deanne Field.
 
Make sure to wear green Monday for SUNY New Paltz softball's game against SUNY Potsdam in supporting mental health awareness.

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