Clermont, FL – The State University of New York at New Paltz opened up its 10-game slate at the annual PFX Spring Games Saturday.
The Hawks took on former SUNYAC rival SUNY Geneseo, falling 8-0 in six innings against the Knights before dropping a tight 3-2 game against Wesleyan University to cap the opening day. 
 
Game One: Sydney Waldon started on the mound for SUNY New Paltz in game one and suffered the loss, dropping her record to 2-2 on the year. Waldon pitched four innings striking out five batters, while letting up three hits, six runs, eight walks and had four errors across the 24 batters faced.
 
The Hawks were quiet in the top of the first. Geneseo struck early, taking a 2-0 lead following a two-run homer. 
 
Mallory Rohon earned the first hit of the trip for SUNY New Paltz with a double. Emmie Mae Cabrera and Leah Gunsett both popped up to third base before Kate Hope stepped up to the plate. Hope singled and Rohon advanced to third, but both were left on base. Waldon struck out all three batters in the bottom of the second, putting the Hawks quickly back on the offensive. 
 
The game was quiet until Geneseo scored two more runs in the bottom of the third as they extended its lead to 4-0 entering the fourth. Kelsey O'Brien opened up the top of the inning with a single, but was tagged out at second. Rohon reached first on a fielder's choice and advanced to second before she was left on base. 
 
Geneseo scored their fifth and sixth runs in the bottom of the fourth with the fifth quiet for both teams. Morgan Smith came in to relieve Waldon pitching 1.2 innings total, striking out one better while allowing four hits, two runs, two walks. 
 
O'Brien walked to earn a base in the sixth but was left on the field at the turn of the inning. The Knights earned two more runs ending the game in the sixth with a final score of 8-0.
 
Game Two: Leah Gunsett pitched all eight innings on the mound for SUNY New Paltz in its second game against the Cardinals, allowing just five hits, two walks, three runs — none earned — with three strikeouts and ultimately dropped to 0-2 on the season following the one-run loss. 
 
O'Brien walked in the bottom of the first but was left on base. The Hawks defense shut down the Cardinals early in the second with multiple pop-up outs. 
 
The game was calm until Sophia D'Arcangelis reached first on an error by the third baseman. Jackie Rometo grounded out to the pitcher and D'Arcangelis advanced to second but was left on base. 
 
SUNY New Paltz struck first in the bottom of the fourth. O'Brien lined out to first, but Rohon followed up with a single to center field for a base hit. Hope pinch ran for Rohon. Ella Sharrock grounded out to second and Hope advanced to second. Hope then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Cabrera singled to center field and batted in Hope for the first run of the game. Cabrera was left on base at the turn of the inning.
 
Wesleyan failed to retaliate in the top of the fifth. D'Arcangelis singled to left field and eanred another bag when Rometo walked but both were left on base. 
 
The Cardinals scored two runs in the top of the sixth, but the Hawks answered in the bottom of the sixth evening up the score 2-2. Rohon walked and was followed by a single from Ella Sharrock. Cabrera reached first on an error by the third baseman. Lauren Parete reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop, as Rohon was tagged out at home. Maddie Anderson flew out to left field on a sacrifice fly, bringing home Sharrock for the second run of the game. D'Arcangelis singled to right field but was left on base with Parete and Cabrera. 
 
The seventh inning was a quick and clean six outs in a row, heading into the eighth. The Cardinals scored one run in the top of the frame leaving the Hawks trailing, 3-2. SUNY New Paltz didn't have an answer in the bottom half and suffered the one-run loss.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in action Sunday for day two of the PFX Spring Games, taking on Simpson College and Clarkson University. 

 
******************
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.