Farmingdale, NY — After taking a heartbreaking, 3-2 extra inning loss in game one on the road Tuesday, the State University of New York at New Paltz battled back for a commanding 8-2 game two win over hosting Farmingdale to split the two-game series.
 
The Hawks (10-4 overall, 0-0 SUNYAC) have faced the Rams every year in a doubleheader since 2022 and have never picked up a win against the Skyline powerhouse until Tuesday and nearly even took the sweep if not for a tough eighth inning walk off.
 
Lindsay Roman pitched well, throwing 7.1 innings, giving up just seven hits and two earned runs with five strikeouts and kept the Rams scoreless through five innings.
 
SUNY New Paltz got on the board first in the top of the third. Lauren Serrao got on with a one-out base hit through the left side with Jaycee Filancia advancing her into scoring position on a single through the left side as well a batter later. Kelsey O'Brien then helped Serrao across, as she hit a hard single to short, forcing a throwing error, which allowed everyone an extra base and the Hawks a 1-0 lead with Serrao scoring on the play.
 
Roman stranded runners in the third, fourth and fifth innings, but the Rams came through in the bottom of the sixth. A lead-off single started the frame with Farmingdale playing small ball, setting down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner over. A two-out RBI single a batter later scored the tying run with Roman getting out of the inning with a flyout.  
Both teams were tied at 1-1 at the end of the seventh forcing extra innings. Filancia laid down a sac bunt to move Rometo from second to third to start the inning with O'Brien again forcing an errant throw on a grounder to the infield, which plated the go-ahead run and allowed her safely at first. Kelly Marmorowski singled a batter later, but the Rams limited the damage, ending the inning on a ground out.
 
A leadoff double changed the game in the bottom of the eighth, as it not only scored the game-tying run from second but placed the game-winning run in scoring position. Farmingdale skied a sacrifice flyout to center, which platted the runner and gave the Rams the game one, 3-2 win.
 
SUNY New Paltz totaled just seven hits itself with Rometo the only Hawk with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Lauren Serrao had a hit and a run scored.
 
SUNY New Paltz took over in game two as it got another solid pitching performance, this time from right-hander Sydney Waldon who improved to 6-1 overall after tossing a full seven innings, giving up just five hits and two earned runs with one walk and five strikeouts.
 
The Hawks took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third thanks to two-out RBI double by Jillian Shelbourne that brought Filancia home after she walked in the previous at-bat. Marmorowski followed up with an RBI double as well, scoring Michaela Bridgwood who pinch ran for Shelbourne, from second.
 
SUNY New Paltz broke the game open in a four-run fifth inning. O'Brien and Shelbourne hit back-to-back one-out singles with O'Brien scoring on an error during the following at-bat by Marmorowksi. Rhionna Bianchini then stepped to the plate two batters later and smacked a two-out, three-RBI double down the left field line to give her team a 6-0 lead.
 
The team scored insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings and held the Rams to two runs in the bottom of the seventh to claim the 8-2 victory.
 
Shelbourne was the catalyst offensively, as the senior went 4-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Bianchini followed, as the senior shortstop went 3-for-4 with three RBI. O'Brien had a hit, scored two runs and had two walks, while Marmorowski finished with a double and an RBI.
 
SUNY New Paltz resumes its road stand Friday when it faces Skidmore for a doubleheader Friday in Saratoga Springs, NY starting at 3 p.m.


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