SCRANTON, PA – The State University of New York at New Paltz softball team could not overcome strong pitching from the University of Scranton on Wednesday, losing both games of a road double-header by scores of 3-0 and 5-1. 
 
In game one, a very strong outing on the mound from Jennifer Sweeney led the Lady Royals to victory. Sweeney went the full seven innings and gave up just three hits while striking out six to improve her record to 8-5. Lindsay Roman had a rare rough outing, giving up three earned runs on six hits in three innings of work. She saw her record drop to 10-5. 
 
The Hawks had an opportunity in the first inning when Jessica Graepel singled with one out. However, Jillian Shelbourne and Madison Maggs both grounded into fielder's choices to end the threat, the first of which saw the lead runner Graepel get thrown out at second. 
 
The Lady Royals got things going on their side in the bottom of the second following a top of the first that saw them strand a lead runner, when Jessica Stadler hit a triple down the line in right field that allowed Alyssa Segnello to score to make the count 1-0. 
 
The home side added to their lead in the bottom of the third with a brief flurry when a single from Sarah Stepnowski into right field brought Heather Alich to home plate, and Cawley singled to score Sweeney to give Scranton a 3-0 lead. 
 
SUNY New Paltz just could not get to Sweeney who retired twelve straight batters from the fourth to the seventh innings to preserve the victory. 
 
Managing hits in game one for the Hawks were Jessica Graepel, who was 2-for-3 batting second in the order, and Rhionna Biachini, who was 1-for-2 batting out of the ninth spot.  Leading Scranton was Stadler's 1-for-2, and Stepnowski and Cawley's 1-for-3. All three batters produced RBIs. 
 
In game two, the Lady Royals scored in the bottom of the second inning, when Amanda Musmanno singled to third base and then stole second base on a play where Stepnowski scored on an error from Jackie Rometo. 
 
Scranton's Hannah Keane through three innings gave up just one hit. 
 
The Lady Royals struck again in the third inning, when a double into left center field from Alich brought around Davida and Indelicato. Alich later scored on a groundout, giving Scranton a 4-0 advantage. 
 
SUNY New Paltz threatened in the fourth inning, but were unable to crack the score column. Juliet Berstein walked, loading the bases for Sidney Bonewit. Bonewit, however, popped up to second base to end the inning. 
 
The Hawks scored a run in the fifth though, when Rometo led the inning off with a single. Shelbourne, after Graepel popped up to short, hit a sharp single down the right field line, advancing Rometo to third base. Rometo scored after Shelbourne stole second base. Emma Tirollo, who picked up her second save in the game, got Maggs to ground out and struck out Campsey to end the frame. 
 
Musmanno scored on a wild pitch in the sixth, making the score 5-1, which proved to be the game-ending margin of victory. Courtney Wellet picked up the win in game two, giving up four hits and no earned runs over 1 ⅓ innings, improving her record to 2-2. 
 
Jillian Harrison was good in five innings, giving up three hits and no earned runs, but Sydney Waldon struggled, giving up three earned in just one inning. Leading the way for Scranton in game two was Alich, who went 1-for-3 while driving in two RBI. On the Hawk side, Campsey, Graepel, and Nicole Greco all went 1-for-3. 
 
"We didn't do a good job of competing out there," said SUNY New Paltz head coach Krysti Maronski. "We have to get our focus back and look forward to Friday against Oswego and get back on track." 
 
The Friday clash with the Lakers of Oswego State is a double-header at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. from Mary Gray Deane Field. The Hawks will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak.

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