New Paltz, NY —The State University of New York at New Paltz split its season finale doubleheader Saturday against Oneonta after falling in game one, 3-1 before coming back and earning an 8-5 victory in game two.
 
The win improved the team to 25-15 overall on the season and 12-6 in the SUNYAC with the Hawks securing the fourth seed in the SUNYAC Tournament, while the Red Dragons earn the third seed with the split Saturday.
 
SUNY New Paltz got supreme pitching from Lindsay Roman in game one. The sophomore gave up just three hits in a full seven innings of work with a career-high 10 strikeouts. However, a solo home run in the second and an error in the fifth decided the outcome with the Hawks struggling to capitalize with runners on offensively throughout the game.
 
Roman gave up a home run to deep center to Julia Serena with no outs in the second, but quickly regrouped to get out of the inning with a strikeout and fly out to left. The game was then decided in the fifth following a double by Serena. The Red Dragons plated another on an error by Rometo, mishandling a ball at first that allowed Serena to score. After Roman forced a groundout and strikeout, an error by Rhionna Bianchini kept the inning alive before another run came home for Oneonta on a miscommunication at second with Jessica Graepel throwing the ball into the outfield on an attempted throw to second on a steal.
 
SUNY New Paltz had trouble plating runners in scoring position. It stranded Sydney Bonewit at second in the bottom of the fifth and then wasted a bases loaded no out situation in the sixth, striking out in three consecutive at-bats to end the threat.
 
 
The Hawks added one in the bottom of the seventh following a double by Bianchini with one out. Graepel brought her home a batter later with an RBI base hit to center, but the threat ended there on a groundout.
 
SUNY New Paltz regrouped offensively in game two and jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with runs in each of the first two innings played. The third inning brought the most offense for both teams as Oneonta gained its first lead with a three-run top of the third.
 
"In the huddle we really just talked to each other and said that we can do it and we just really had to come out strong with our bats because that was really the only thing that was lacking in the first game, was trying to attack the pitch more in game two and game one we kind of were just laid back and taking more strikes and we really just told each other to attack," said Hawks sophomore first baseman Jillian Shelbourne.
Trailing 4-2 heading into the bottom half of the inning, Katie Quagliana ignited the rally with a one-out double down the right field line. Shelbourne followed up with a base hit to advance Quagliana to third with both runs scoring on a two RBI double by Graepel, plating Quagliana and Isabella Shepherd who pinch-ran for Shelbourne. Nicole Greco knocked an RBI base hit to center to score Graepel to re-take the lead for the Hawks with Carol Ann Campsey piling on, tripling to right field and scoring Greco. She later scored on a passed ball to cap the scoring and help SUNY New Paltz a 7-4 advantage entering the fourth. 
 
The Hawks added one more in the fourth thanks to another double by Quagliana. Shelbourne singled on the next at-bat to move her over and then helped score her in with a delayed steal, placing herself in a pickle while Quagliana came home to up the advantage, 8-4.
 
Oneonta threatened in the top of the sixth and nearly snatched back the lead. It led off with back-to-back hits, following a walk to earn bases loaded with no outs. Another walk plated a run, but Roman re-entered to take the mound and halted the damage there. She grinded to strikeout the next three batters to keep the score at 8-5, and then pitched the seventh where she gave up two hits but closed out with a strikeout to solidify the win.
 
"Lindsay has been doing an excellent job for us all year and has been lights out in her last few innings," said SUNY New Paltz coach Krysti Maronski. " I wish we could have gotten her a couple runs in that first game, but to come into that situation with bases loaded in the second game, no outs, and strike out the side was really awesome and competitive."
 
Quagliana led the way offensively, going 2-for-3 with three runs and a walk. Shelbourne was a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI. She added a hit in game one.
 
"I did feel more confident in game two after game one," Shelbourne said. "I kind of like spoke to myself and said that like I can do it to just go up there and be confident and attack the ball."
 
Sydney Waldon was given the win after pitching 2.2 innings, giving up just three hits and a walk with two strikeouts. In two innings pitched, Roman yielded two hits with four more strikeouts, bringing her total to 14 strikeouts on the day.
 
With the regular season at a close, the Hawks prepare for their first trip to the postseason since 2019. They will go up against the Red Dragons in Geneseo, NY at 1 p.m. Thursday.
 
"We have to prepare to make all of the routine plays that's given to us and to do all the little things right and really stay aggressive at the plate," Maronski said. "From here on out, we have to play hard every inning every pitch and we will go from there."

Post-Game Interview with Jillian Shelbourne


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