Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Plattsburgh, NY – After a comeback attempt fell just short in the first game, the State University of New York at New Paltz softball team rallied again in the second game and held on to win 5-4 at Plattsburgh State on Friday afternoon to keep its playoff hopes alive.

"This was a huge win for us against Plattsburgh," Hawks head coach Samantha Miller said. "We're still in the running for SUNYACs because the team did some big things today. We got big hits in critical moments, timely bunts, great defense and never quit."

SUNY New Paltz (14-19-1, 7-9 SUNYAC) will conclude its regular season on Saturday when it travels to SUNY Potsdam (6-22, 3-11 SUNYAC), needing to win both games in order to have a chance to qualify for the SUNYAC Tournament. SUNY New Paltz has not lost a game to the Bears since 2014.

The Hawks were down 3-0 heading into the fifth inning of the second game, but managed to get runners on first and second with two out and bring freshman shortstop Katie Conrad to the plate. She drove the first pitch she saw to right center to get SUNY New Paltz on the board. A wild pitch brought in another run and then senior outfielder Julia Perhacs singled up the middle to bring in Conrad and tie the game at 3-3.

The next inning with a runner on first and no outs, Hawks junior second baseman Shannon Fee doubled to left and senior third baseman Alexa Mastando came all the way around from first to score and give SUNY New Paltz its first lead of the afternoon. The Hawks would bring home another run later in the inning on an infield single from Conrad.

"The fight within this team is immeasurable," Miller said. "They did not let down and they kept their heads in every moment."

The Cardinals threatened in their half of the inning by getting the first two runners on base with a walk followed by a bunt single. A sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third with only one out and a sacrifice fly by freshman second baseman Shannon Myles made it a 5-4 game. With the tying run on third, sophomore pitcher Alyssa Pfitscher got junior catcher Jennifer Groat, who leads the SUNYAC with a .491 batting average, to groundout on a bunt attempt and keep the score in the Hawks' favor.

Pfitscher got the first two batters out in the bottom of the seventh inning, but a walk and a single kept the game alive. Junior catcher Anna Fisher, who was 1-for-1 with two walks in the game, came to the plate looking to get both runners home. But Pfitscher managed to get her to pop out to end the match and earn SUNY New Paltz a split in the series.

"Alyssa did an excellent job today, pitching her heart out in the second game after coming in relief for Lauren in the first game," Miller said. "She let our defense work, took charge in shutting down big hitters and completed the game with confidence."

Conrad led the offense with a 2-for-4 performance, including two RBIs and one run scored. Hawks sophomore first baseman Kelsey Trudden also went 2-for-4, while senior outfielder Taylor Leonette went 1-for-2 including one triple, two walks, one stolen base and one run scored. Pfitscher earned her fifth win of the season by giving up three earned runs over seven innings of work, scattering nine hits and striking out one.

Similar to the second game, Plattsburgh took a 3-0 lead into the fifth inning of game one before an RBI single by Conrad got SUNY New Paltz on the board.

In the top of the sixth inning with runners on first and second and one out, Trudden tripled to right center to bring in both runners and knot the score at 3-3. Cardinals senior pitcher Taylor Smith, whose 2.51 ERA is the fifth-lowest in the conference, was then brought in relief to try and keep the game tied. Mastando followed with a flyout to right and Trudden ran home from third and was initially called safe, but the play was reviewed and the call was overturned.

Plattsburgh then took the lead in their half of the inning on an RBI double from Groat. Fee led off the top of the seventh inning with a double, giving the Hawks a chance to tie the game once again. Freshman utility player Nina Simms came in to pinch run for her but was called out trying to advance to third on a bunt single due to violation of the look-back rule. The Cardinals stranded the tying run on first to secure the 4-3 win.

"Unfortunately, we had to deal with some tough calls that kept us from putting the nail in the coffin in that first game," Miller said. "But we feel really good after the way we played today."

Fee had a strong showing at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two doubles. Pfitscher sustained the loss but pitched well in her relief appearance, tossing two and two-third innings, giving up just one run on two hits while striking out two. She also helped her own cause at the plate, going 1-for-1 with one run scored.

The Hawks are back in action Saturday, taking on the Bears four a double-header starting at 9:30 a.m. Be sure to follow @nphawks on Twitter and @newpaltzhawks on Instagram and Facebook for updates, highlights, videos, photos and more.