CAMDEN, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz softball team started its 2022 campaign with two wins in a doubleheader at Rutgers University-Camden Friday from Rutgers-Camden Community Park. In the first game, a 3 p.m. start, the Hawks defeated the Scarlet Raptors 12-8, and in the second game at 5 p.m. won in dominant fashion by a score of 11-1. The games were the first two for each team this season. 
 
"It was great to finally get out today and play some games," said Hawks coach Krysti Maronski. "We had a long preseason and have been working hard so it was nice to finally put everything into action." 
 
SUNY New Paltz got the action going by utilizing an outstanding first inning to catapult them to victory in game number one. To begin the game, Rhionna Bianchini, SUNY New Paltz's leadoff hitter, was walked by Scarlet Raptors' starting pitcher Rachel White, the first of three walks given up by White on the day. Biachini then promptly stole second base, putting herself in scoring position with nobody out. After Jackie Rometo flew out and Katie Quagliana lined out, Kelly Marmorowski walked, setting the stage for a Sydney Bonewit RBI double that scored Biachini and advanced Marmorowski to third base. Carol Ann Campsey walked on the ensuing at-bat, leading to RBI singles from Juliet Bernstein and Julia Mastrup. A single by Isabella Shepherd advanced Mastrup to third, and both Shepherd and Mastrup ended up being the final two runs of the seven-run first inning for the Hawks. 
 
Quagliana, who pitched five innings and struck out two batters, shut out the home team through the first two innings. However, Rutgers-Camden came alive in the bottom of the third inning. After Alexa McNee led off with a double, she advanced to third base on a groundout from Emily Dubagio. A single by Kimmy Musarra scored McNee, while a double to left-center field from Meg Gray scored Musarra. Gray scored a wild pitch to give the Scarlet Raptors' their third run of the inning and make the score 7-3.  
In response, SUNY New Paltz blew the game wide open in the top of the fourth. Rometo got the action started with a single, and moved to third base after Quagliana reached base on an error, and a single by Marmorowski brought Quagliana to second base as Rometo scored, putting the Hawks up 8-3. In the ensuing at-bat, Campsey drove in Quagliana with a single, and a single to center field by Mastrup brought home both Campsey and Bonewit for two of her team-leading four RBI in the game. 
 
Quagliana retired the side one-two-three in the bottom half of the fourth, and although Rutgers-Camden scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth on a single by Alexis Schauer, a Madison Maggs single in the sixth extended the Hawks lead to seven at 12-5. RBI singles by Dubiago, White and Zoe Rodriguez would be all the Scarlet Raptors would get in the scoring column the rest of the way. 
 
In addition to Mastrup's 2-for-3 effort with four RBI, Bernstein went 1-for-3 for her two RBI, while Sydney Waldon struck out four batters in two innings. Dubiago, McNee, Schauer and Gray each went 1-for-3 for Rutgers-Camden in the first matchup. 
 
"Defensively I think we started out well, but let them come back into the game during our first game when we should've just shut it down," said Maronski. "But I think we learned and took that into the second game and played a pretty sound game defensively and offensively." 
 
Learning from game one definitely paid off in game number two for SUNY New Paltz, as they were flat out dominant, cruising to an 11-1 win in five innings. 
 
After both teams went scoreless in the first inning, Quagliana was walked by White, who had a very rough time on the mound in giving up six runs and walking five batters in just two and 1/3 innings. After Quagliana advanced to second on a sacrifice, a wild pitch sent her to third, and Maggs promptly hit an RBI single to make the score 1-0 in favor of the visitors. Mya DiRenzo singled to center, and advanced to third base after Bianchini hit a single that brought Maggs to the plate. DiRenzo, in a rare but fascinating play, stole home to put the Hawks up 3-0. In the bottom of the second, the Scarlet Raptors got their only run of the game when Olivia Bull scored on a Luci Hutchinson hit an RBI double. 
 
SUNY New Paltz added four runs in the top of the third, the first of which came when Bernstein was walked with the bases loaded. After DiRenzo reached on a fielder's choice, Maggs, who had advanced to second base when Bernstein was walked, scored on a passed ball to make the score 5-1. Bianchini singled to short, registering an RBI when Bernstein crossed home plate. The final run of the inning occurred when DiRenzo was brought home on a wild pitch. 
 
Up  7-1, the Hawks easily thwarted a Rutgers-Camden threat in the bottom of third, getting Natalie Ampole to fly out and White to foul out with Musarra, who walked to lead the inning off, in scoring position at second base. 
 
SUNY New Paltz left no doubt in the top half of the fourth, effectively ending the game and any threat posed by their opposition. After Bonewit singled, Mamorowski singled to center field to advance Bonewit to second. With two runners on and nobody out, Quagliana singled into left field, loading the bases for Campsey. Though Campsey struck out, Maggs, the next batter, hit a grand slam to blow the game open 11-1. 
 
"Overall offensively I think we had a great approach at the plate today," said Maronski of her team's performance. "We weren't looking at too many pitches and we were being pretty aggressive and taking a lot of hacks. We also did a really nice job on the base path of taking extra bases and moving up with balls in the dirt." 
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Jillian Harrison retired three straight when she struck out Dubiago swinging, Musarra looking and got Gray to ground out to third base. 
 
"We got great pitching from Lindsay and then Jill came in firing to close it out," said Maronski.  
 
Maggs, who went 2-for-3 in the game and tallied three runs, had five RBI, while Bianchini had two and Bernstein one. DiRenzo, despite not registering an RBI, was 2-for-3, while Quagliana was 2-for-2 with three runs and a walk. Lindsay Roman was great on the mound, allowing four hits in four innings and striking out a batter while giving up no earned runs. 
 
"Maggs had a great day at the plate today," said Maronski. "She was seeing the ball well and she always takes very aggressive swings and it paid off for her today." 
 
The 10-run margin of victory for the Hawks was their largest since 2019, when they defeated Calvin College in Clermont, FL 12-2. Next up for SUNY New Paltz is a double-header on Wednesday, March 9 at the University of Scranton, with game times of 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. 
 
"Looking forward to Scranton we are going to focus on cleaning up some things defensively, and pitching-wise attack hitters more," Maronski said of Wednesday's opponent. "I am happy with how today went and how we were able to bounce back and really take it to them. We're definitely looking forward to getting back out there and facing Scranton who is going to be a very strong opponent."

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