Potsdam, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz picked up two more SUNYAC wins Sunday, earning a sweep of hosting Potsdam, 9-2 and 5-1, respectively.
 
The day was highlighted by a near no-hit bid by junior Sydney Waldon in game two, as the reining All-SUNYAC select put together another stand-out performance, throwing 6.1 no-hit innings before the Bears broke up the stretch with a one-out single in the seventh. Waldon still earned the complete game win after tossing 10 strikeouts, giving up just two hits, two walks and no earned runs.
 
The Hawks gave Waldon run support early, scoring two in the top of the first. Jaycee Filanica led off with double to right and scored on the next at-bat with Kelsey O'Brien knocking a base hit through the middle. Filancia, with smart base running, got herself across on the throw in. Rhionna Bianchini then capped the scoring in the inning, as she managed to plate O'Brien from third with an RBI ground out.
 
Filancia led off the third inning as well and helped SUNY New Paltz to another pair of runs scored. After starting the frame with a single, she crossed home plate two batters later on back-to-back base hits by O'Brien and Jillian Shelbourne. O'Brien then earned another run after scoring on a sacrifice fly by Bianchini to create a 4-0 cushion.
 
O'Brien reached home plate one last time in the seventh to give Waldon a 5-0 lead. The Monroe, NY native led off the inning with a walk and scored following an RBI fielder's choice by Bianchini. Waldon, meanwhile, went back out in the bottom half only three outs from capturing her first career no-hitter and eighth ever in program history.  
She earned the first out of the inning with a ground out to Lauren Serrao at second, but Potsdam finally broke through with a base hit through the left side to earn a base and end the thought of a no-hit bid. Waldon allowed another base hit but settled in and closed out the game. Potsdam earned one on a sacrifice fly, but Waldon put an exclamation point on the day with a strikeout swinging to earn her 12th win of the season.
 
The top of the order did most of the damage for SUNY New Paltz led by Filancia who finished 3-for-4 with two runs, followed by O'Brien who went 2-for-3 with three runs, an RBI, a walk and a stolen base. Shelbourne also tallied two hits with an RBI, a walk and a stolen base, while Kelly Marmorowski in the sixth spot, went 3-for-4 on the day.
 
Lindsey Roman opened up the afternoon for the Hawks in game one, as she pitched a full seven innings, giving up eight hits, two earned runs with no walks and one strikeout to improve her record to 11-3 on the season.
 
SUNY New Paltz was in control in the second, as it responded with a three-run inning to take the lead at 3-1. Bianchini tied the score at 1-1 following a SAC fly by Marmorowski and Filancia gave the Hawks the go-ahead runs needed to get out in front after hitting a two RBI single to left, scoring Serrao and Sophia D'Arcangelis who both got on with base hits.
 
Filancia reached home in the fifth on an RBI ground out by Shelbourne with Maddie Anderson, pinch running for Jackie Rometo, scoring on an RBI base hit from Marmorowski to create a 5-2 cushion for SUNY New Paltz.
 
Roman got three outs in four batters faced in the bottom half of the frame before the Hawks all but put the game away with three more runs to start the sixth. Isabella Sheperd came in clutch in a pinch-hit situation, pulling a ball down the left field line for a double. She fought her way home on mistakes by the Bears, advancing on a wild pitch then getting home on an errant throw at the plate. Potsdam was forced to go to the bullpen after a walk to Filancia and eventually Filancia returned home once again, as Rometo struck an RBI single to center. Michaela Bridgwood, pinch running for Rometo, capped the scoring in the inning, as she got home following another throwing error by the Bears.
 
Filancia closed out the 9-2 win for the Hawks on an RBI double in the seventh, scoring Sydney Bonewit. The sophomore once again led the team offensively, as she finished 3-for-4 with two runs, three RBI and a career-high four stolen bases, which tied for the most in program history. Rometo and D'Arcangelis each went 2-for-4 on the day with the latter adding an RBI and the former a run scored, while Bianchini also had a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-3 with a run, an RBI and a walk with a stolen base.
 
SUNY New Paltz improved to 24-4 overall and 10-0 in the SUNYAC after the weekend sweep, sitting alone atop the conference standings with 20 points. It returns home for a six-game slate, starting with non-conference action against Russell Sage Tuesday at 3 p.m. before hosting Buffalo State and SUNY Fredonia on Mary Gray Deane Field Friday and Saturday, respectively.

 
***********
To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow us on Twitter at @nphawks, Instagram and Facebook at @newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our Youtube channel, New Paltz Hawks.