Plattsburgh, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz softball program played two and split two Saturday at SUNY Plattsburgh's Cardinal Park, winning Game 1, 4-1 but losing the second game, 7-5.

Game 1 saw SUNY New Paltz (1-3 SUNYAC, overall) secure its first win of the season, but it could not repeat that effort in Game 2 despite numerous rallies and tricky softball. The Hawks combined for 18 hits combined compared to just 15 for SUNY Plattsburgh (3-5 SUNYAC, overall), but they also left 14 runners on base.

Rebecca Diller started the scoring for the Cardinals in Game 1 with a leadoff home run to left-center field in the second inning before freshman Lindsay Roman struck out the remainder of the side. SUNY New Paltz answered back with two runs of its own. Senior Nina Simms doubled and then scored on an error, then first-year transfer Sydney Bonewit walked and came around to score on an error. Madison Rappold followed with a single to center field and the Hawks would score again in the fourth and sixth on one-out groundouts by Simms and sophomore Lauren Shambo.

 

Plattsburgh's biggest threat came in the bottom of the sixth with one out and a runner on second after a Julia Golino double. Bella Spadinger hit a flyout to center for the second out, but Bonewit threw out pinch-runner Gabby Rodriguez trying to go for third to end the frame. Frannie Merkel struck out to end Game 1. 

Roman (1-1) earned a complete-game win in the Game 1 victory after a rough start on Wednesday. She allowed just one run -- on the Diller home run -- on four hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts on her way to her first win of her collegiate career.

Simms led off Game 2 with a double, and after a bunt single by junior Kiley Besko moved her over to third, Simms stole home on a double steal try to take an early 1-0 lead. The Cardinals came back with a run of their own; Diller battled for 14 pitches against junior pitcher Katie Quagliana before lining a base hit into center field to tie the game. The inning concluded without any further scoring, but not before Quagliana was forced to throw 43 pitches in the inning.

Freshman shortstop Rhionna Bianchini drove in the Hawks' second run with a RBI single, but Plattsburgh answered with a two-run single by Kristen Langdon. Simms led off the third with a single, and after advancing to third on an error after a Besko bunt, the two successfully attempted a double steal again to tie the game at 3.

That's when Plattsburgh's offense woke up. A walk and two singles loaded the bases with nobody out and spelled the end of the day for Quagliana. After throwing 93 pitches in Game 1, Roman came into the game and got two outs on a fielder's choice at home and a strikeout, but Merkel drove in two with a single down the right-field line. After the first scoreless inning of the game from SUNY New Paltz, Plattsburgh drove in two more on an Alexandra Clifford double.

The Hawks threatened with a two-out rally in the fifth with a single by Bonewit and walks by senior Celia Santini and Shambo, but could not capitalize as Quagliana flied out to left on a stumbling catch by Merkel. They scored  two in the sixth after a two-run double by Simms, but Besko hit into a 6-3-5 double play to end the inning.

The Hawks threatened again with a double and a single by Bonewit and Santini, respectively, to lead off the seventh, but Rappold popped out, Quagliana lined out, and senior Meagan Blair struck out to end the ballgame. SUNY New Paltz ultimately left eight runners on base, including five crucial runners and the game-tying run in the seventh.

Simms had a 4-for-8 day, three for doubles, with two stolen bases and three RBI.

The Hawks are back in action Wednesday for their first home doubleheader against Oneonta (4-2). First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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