New Paltz, NY — With a big test against one of the top teams in conference left on its schedule, the State University of New York at New Paltz came through with two more wins, extending its program record setting winning streak to 14 games and strengthening its grasp on the top seed of the SUNYAC standings Thursday.
 
The Hawks hosted Plattsburgh State on Mary Gray Deane Field and held on in game one, 2-0 and instrumented a third-inning comeback to earn a 9-2 game two victory for their fifth consecutive SUNYAC sweep of the season, improving to 24-10 overall and 11-1 in the conference.
 
"Getting a sweep today was extremely important," said SUNY New Paltz senior Juliet Bernstein. "We knew that Plattsburgh was one of the teams that we needed to compete with and looking forward it's Buffalo, but today was Plattsburgh so getting this sweep, getting this win definitely solidifies us being in the SUNYAC playoffs so we're really excited."
 
Lindsay Roman earned the game one start and improved to 14-2 with her fourth complete game shutout of the season after allowing just two hits with three strikeouts and no walks. She had a perfect game going through the fourth, but the Cardinals broke up the streak with a leadoff single to begin the fifth. Roman pitched out of the jam after allowing a second runner on, forcing a ground out fielder's choice to hold runners on first and second. She then struck out the next batter and earned a flyout to left to hold the shutout.
 
The Hawks gave Roman run support in the second, thanks to a leadoff double by Jillian Shelbourne. Nicole Greco came in to pinch run and was moved over to third on a base hit by Bernstein. Emmie Mae Cabrera then came through with a sacrifice fly to score Greco and gave her team a 1-0 lead. Cabrera was clutch again in the bottom of the fourth, as she batted in Bernstein, who smacked a one-out double into the gap at left, with a double of her own to boost the score to 2-0.
 
 
Besides the trouble in the fifth, Roman made quick work of Plattsburgh in the final two frames getting six straight outs to seal the game-one win. Bernstein was the only Hawk with two hits in the game, going 2-for-3 with a run and a stolen base. Rometo joined Bernstein, Shelbourne and Cabrera with a double.
 
"I would say my role is to be as consistent as possible," Bernstein said. "In the beginning all of us were trying to figure out our defense as best as possible and our offense. I think just trying to find everyone's spot and where they belong has been the key to success. Having key hitters come up at key times, changing positions when needed, that's what has been working best."  
SUNY New Paltz faced a 2-1 deficit in game two with Sydney Waldon in the circle. The sophomore showed her maturity as she worked out of jam in the first allowing only a single run across after a pair of hits and walks had the bases loaded. She got out of another predicament in the second as well with the Cardinals leading off with a hit, then reaching on an error in the next at-bat. Waldon forced a soft grounder back at her to get the out at third on a fielder's choice for the first out of the inning before getting a flyout to right. Sydney Bonewit then came up huge, showing her strong arm as she rifled a throw on a base hit to center, throwing out the Plattsburgh runner trying to reach home as Cabrera made the tag to keep the score at 2-1.
 
SUNY New Paltz gave Waldon some run support and them some in a game-turning seven-run third inning. The Cardinals instigated the stretch with a hit-by-pitch to lead off. Rometo and Shelbourne followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases for Bonewit who ripped a two RBI double tailing toward the left center fence to give the Hawks a 3-2 lead. Jaycee Filancia added on with an RBI base hit through the middle, scoring Greco who pinch ran for Shelbourne. Cabrera recorded another sacrifice fly to create a 5-2 cushion. Kelly Marmorowski came up with a pinch-hit two RBI double to score Filancia and Bernstein with Rhionna Bianchini capping the stretch on another double, scoring Lauren Serrao who pinch ran for Marmorowski to give SUNY New Paltz a comfortable, 8-2 cushion to end the third.
 
Jillian Harrison came in to close out the last two innings for the Hawks and gave up just a hit with no walks on seven batters faced. SUNY New Paltz played good defense behind her, highlighted by a diving catch from Bernstein in the seventh to help close out — her second diving grab of the day in a defensive clinic in right displayed all afternoon.
 
"I never think about diving, especially with my last dive I didn't even think I was going to, but I see the ball and I just try to get it as much as possible," Bernstein said. "It's extremely exciting, especially having this be my last year to be able to have this exciting last season and be able to be such a key part in it in the infield and in the outfield, it's just been absolutely amazing."
 
Shelbourne led the way offensively in game two, going 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI, including her first home run of the season that solidified the 9-2 final. Filancia went 2-for-3 with a run and RBI, while Bianchini finished 1-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Serrao hit 1-for-2 with a run and Bonewit regiered a double with one run and two RBI.
 
With results across the SUNYAC Thursday, SUNY New Paltz remains alone atop the league standings. It will look to extend its winning streak and keep its first place standing Friday in its regular season finale at Mary Gray Deane Field Friday against Potsdam for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
 
"They're not the best team in the conference, but we're definitely going to just try to play as strong as we have been playing," Bernstein said. "Try to beat them, take it to them, especially it being the last home game. It's bittersweet, but hopefully we can bring the SUNYAC's here, so it won't really be the last one."

Post-Game Featuring Juliet Bernstein


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