Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
New Paltz, NY – A late sixth inning rally by the State University of New York at New Paltz softball team tied the second game of its doubleheader against Western Connecticut State University on Wednesday afternoon, but the game was called due to darkness and ended in a 2-2 tie.
 
Hawks junior catcher Madison Rappold and junior second baseman Shannon Fee led off the inning with back-to-back singles to put the tying runs on base. One out later, sophomore infielder Megan Blair lined a single up the middle to make it a 2-1 game and freshman utility player Ashley Puig followed with a base hit to right field to tie the game.
 
"It was nice to see people who haven't been getting much playing time come through in big situations," Hawks head coach Samantha Miller said. "Megan Blair and Ashley Puig adjusted their swings and managed to come up with some big hits."
 
SUNY New Paltz freshman pitcher Emily Fox started the game in the circle and tossed six innings, surrendering two runs on six hits while striking out a season-high five batters. She limited the Colonials to just one run in the second and sixth innings and worked in and out of jams, stranding six runners on base.
 
Hawks senior outfielder Julia Perhacs went 2-for-3 at the plate while senior outfielder Taylor Leonette stole two bases. Freshman shortstop Katie Conrad tripled with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Hawks were unable to bring her home.



Conrad also came up clutch in the first game, as the score was tied 5-5 going into the bottom of the seventh and after leading off the inning with a single, the Colonials turned their attention elsewhere and she advanced to second. Similar to the second game, no one was able to drive her in and Western Connecticut scored in the top of the eighth inning and went on to win the game 6-5.
 
Each team scored one run in the second inning and the Colonials took advantage of a throwing error to score two runs in the top of the fifth. The Hawks capitalized on some sloppy defense and responded in their half of the inning with four runs to take a 5-3 lead. The Colonials tied the game the following inning.
 
Leonette went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Rappold also scored one run and went 1-for-4 with a double, while sophomore outfielder Julia DiSpigna went 1-for-3 with one stolen base and one run scored.
 
"We left about 17 base runners on in total today," Miller said. "We need to stop concentrating on getting big hits and start focusing on putting the ball in play and making the defense work."
 
SUNY New Paltz senior pitcher Lauren Cappello sustained the loss, pitching all eight innings, scattering 10 hits, giving up three earned runs and recording a season-high seven strikeouts.
 
This was the team's first game since their 4-1 win over Buffalo State on March 31.
 
"Even though this was our 11^th day without playing a game, we knew our focus had to be on effective at-bats, effective base running and playing good defense. Unfortunately, we didn't really do any of those things. I hope this leaves a bad taste in their mouths so we can turn it around this weekend."
 
The Hawks (10-11-1, 3-1 SUNYAC) will next host SUNY Oswego (11-7, 4-2 SUNYAC) on Friday, April 13 and SUNY Cortland (10-11, 3-1 SUNYAC) the following day. SUNY New Paltz is tied for fourth-place in the conference standings, while the Lakers are tied for second and the Red Dragons are also tied for fourth. This will be the first matchup between the Hawks and Oswego since the first round of last season's SUNYAC Tournament.