Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
New Paltz, NY – The State University of New York at New Paltz softball team found itself in the middle of a pitchers duel in its first game against Catskill Cup rival SUNY Oneonta on Saturday afternoon at Mary Gray Deane Field, eventually falling 2-1 in extra innings before losing the second game 12-2.
 
Prior to the start of game one, Hawks seniors Danielle Bruno, Lauren Cappello, Taylor Leonette, Alexa Mastando and Julia Perhacs were honored for their four years of service to commemorate the team's Senior Day.
 
After the Red Dragons scored one run in the top of the first inning, SUNY New Paltz sophomore outfielder Julia DiSpigna responded in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single to tie up the game.
 
From there on out, Cappello and SUNY Oneonta sophomore pitcher Alyssa Bluethgen matched each other inning for inning to keep the score at 1-1. Cappello pitched fantastic on her Senior Day, tossing all eight innings, scattering nine hits and giving up just one earned run while striking out four. Bluethgen also had a strong showing in the circle, pitching all eight innings, surrendering just one run on six hits while recording seven punch outs. Both teams had scoring opportunities from the second inning through the seventh inning, but Cappello stranded six base runners while Bluethgen left seven on base.
 
In the top of the eighth inning the tie finally broke, as Red Dragons junior utility player Lauren Sabatino, who drove in her team's first run in the first inning, tripled with one out and sophomore second baseman Brooke Corbett later singled to center field to drive her home. The Hawks went down in order in their half of the inning.
 
SUNY New Paltz sophomore first baseman Kelsey Trudden accounted for half of her team's hits, going 3-for-3. DiSpigna, Cappello and junior catcher Madison Rappold each recorded one hit in the game.
 
"We showed a lot of fight in the first game," Hawks head coach Samantha Miller said. "Our defense showed up but unfortunately our bats did not. We were a little too eager at the plate today."
 
The second game could not have been more different than the first, as the Red Dragons cranked out 12 runs on 14 hits to end the game after five innings due to the mercy rule. The Hawks got their lone runs of the game in the third inning when Perhacs doubled to left field to bring DiSpigna and freshman shortstop Katie Conrad home.
 
"We fel­­­t very defeated going into that last inning knowing that we had to get a run to stay in the game," Miller said. "But when you're down 10 in the fifth inning against a team like Oneonta, it's really tough to bounce back. They showed up to play and we didn't do our job."
 
Cappello sustained the loss in the circle, while SUNY New Paltz freshman pitcher Emily Fox tossed two and one-thirds innings in relief, giving up just one earned run on seven hits.
 
With the two wins, SUNY Oneonta increases its lead in the Catskill Cup standings to 20-15.
 
The Hawks (13-16-1, 6-6 SUNYAC) will next host SUNY Geneseo (19-5, 8-2 SUNYAC) on Monday, April 23 with game one scheduled for 12 p.m. Although the series will take place on Mary Gray Deane Field, SUNY New Paltz will serve as the road team and bat in the top of each inning. The Knights are currently tied for first in the SUNYAC standings with SUNY Cortland.