CORTLAND, NY – The State University of New York at New Paltz softball team finished their regular season with a 25-15 record, which included a 10-game winning streak from April 3-15. By virtue of their strong efforts, they were able to earn a berth into the SUNYAC Tournament, where a first round win against SUNY Oneonta on May 5 allowed them to advance to the second round. The Hawks lost their second round matchup to SUNY Cortland, but after defeating Plattsburgh State on May 6, had another chance against the Red Dragons once again on Saturday morning with their season on the line. Unfortunately, SUNY New Paltz was unable to get their bats going enough, losing the game 4-1, ultimately ending their great season. 
 
"I am really proud of the group and the year we had," said Hawks' head coach Krysti Maronski. "We have learned a lot over the course of this year and continued to grow as a group and had a lot of fun together." 
 
After Maronski's group was retired 1-2-3 in the first inning, SUNY Cortland struck in the bottom half off the outstanding SUNY New Paltz sophomore Lindsay Roman. Elaina Ornstein, out of the lead off spot and who led her team with a 2-for-4 afternoon, hit a single, stole second base, and advanced to third after Roman errantly threw the ball into right field. A passed ball then brought Ornstein around to score. Four batters later, Julz Koch hit a two-run double to put the Red Dragons up 3-0, which was the scoring margin after one inning. 
 
SUNY Cortland added another run in the bottom of the second when Hannah Reich, who hit a sharp single into right field to start the inning, was brought home by a Gina Myers single. 
 
The Hawks had two runners on with two out in the third, but were unable to take advantage after Katie Quagliana popped up. In the fourth inning with two outs, Carol Ann Campsey beat out a throw to first base after hitting a hard ball to shortstop, but Madison Maggs struck out on a high fastball. The play was a microcosm of the day for the Hawks, who just could not find that ability to break through and get runs. 
 
Jillian Harrison, who replaced Roman in the second inning, was in a precarious situation in the fourth, with the Red Dragons having runners on second and third with one out. The senior found her bearings though, was able to retire Halle Wright and McKenna Barry consecutively to end the inning. 
 
SUNY New Paltz got on the board in the top of the fifth, when Jackie Rometo drove in Nicole Greco with an RBI double with just one out. However, on the next play, Quagliana grounded out and Sydney Bonewit, trying to score on the play, was called out at home. 
 
Down by the same 4-1 margin in the sixth, SUNY New Paltz once again stranded a runner. After Jillian Shelbourne was hit by a pitch, Graepel fouled out, Campsey popped up, and Maggs struck out swinging. 
 
Harrison got out of the sixth inning unscathed, giving the Hawk offense one final chance in the seventh to either tie or take the lead to extend the game. Greco led off the inning with a fly out to left, bringing up Rhionna Bianchini, who popped to short. In stepped Sydney Bonewit looking to extend the game with two out, and the junior and 2021 All-SUNYAC member came up clutch with a hit into right field, bringing up Rometo. However, Karlee Weeden, who went the full seven innings, got Rometo to pop up to short as well to end the game. 
 
Rometo led her team at the plate, with her double and RBI, while Harrison was great in her five innings of work, giving up just four hits, no earned runs and striking out four. 
 
The loss was a difficult one for a Hawk team that had that aforementioned major winning streak in the middle of the season and played well down the stretch of the regular season, going 4-2 over the final six games to get into the SUNYAC Tournament. The team will graduate seniors Campsey, Quagliana, and Julia Mastrup. All leave the program with decorated careers.
 
"We are going to miss Carol Ann, Katie, and Julia tremendously," said Maronski of her graduating seniors. "They are three beautiful young ladies who have given so much to this program and have been great leaders to this group." 
 
The trio also holds special significance to Maronski as all three were freshmen in Maronski's first season at New Paltz. 
 
"I love them very much and they will always hold a special place in New Paltz softball history."