POTSDAM, N.Y.—Clarkson University (5-14-1) swept the SUNY Potsdam softball team (3-13) 15-7 and 4-3 on a frigid Tuesday afternoon. Senior captain Lauren Brace (Moriah, N.Y./Moriah) was 4-for-7 on the day with two runs scored and three runs batted in. She is now fifth on the program's all-time hits list with 102.
 
The Golden Knights struck first in the opener on two-run homer from centerfielder Summer Lancette in the top of the first. Clarkson then exploded for six runs in the top of the second on four hits. Right fielder Danielle Whitham drove in Clarkson's third run on a ground out. Shortstop Hannah Bowen followed with a two-run single. Left fielder Bridget Woolley then knocked in Bowen with a single to left. First baseman Liz Caggiano made it 7-0 with another RBI single and catcher Michelle Winn capped the big inning with a final RBI on another ground out.
 
The Bears answered with five runs of their own in the bottom of the second. Sophomore second baseman Sarah Hyland (Stony Brook, N.Y./Ward Melville) walked with the bases loaded to score the first run. Sophomore first baseman Megan Fish (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North) scored the second on a wild pitch. Junior centerfielder Brooke Falsion (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport) knocked in the next two with a double to right. Falsion then scored on an error and the Bears trailed just 8-5.
 
Clarkson scored three more in the top of the third. Woolley hit a two-run double to center and third baseman Kat Plescow made it 11-5 with an RBI infield single. In the bottom of the fifth, Brace launched the seventh home run of her career over the left field fence to become the seventh player in program history with 100 hits. After the Golden Knights added a 12th run on a ground out in the top of the sixth, Hyland scored Potsdam's seventh run on an error in the bottom half of the inning.
 
Caggiano nabbed an RBI on a ground out in the top of the seventh and Winn doubled in the final two runs of the contest for the 15-7 victory.
 
Bears junior pitcher Alissa McCauley (Malone, N.Y./Franklin Academy) (1-3) allowed six runs, five earned, on four hits and two walks in 1.1 innings. Senior Meghan Dougherty (East Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia) allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits and two walks over the next 1.2. Freshman Kayla Palmer (Chester, N.Y./Chester) allowed four runs on seven hits and a walk over the final four innings. Clarkson's Sam Mennig (2-4) earned the win after giving up six runs, five earned, on seven hits and two walks in five innings. She recorded three strikeouts. Leah Allen pitched the final two innings, allowing a run on two hits.
 
Falsion was 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Brace finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and RBI. Hyland was 2-for-2 with two runs scored, an RBI and a walk. Freshman third baseman Sydney Miller (Hoosick Falls, N.Y./Hoosick Falls) was 1-for-3 with a run.
 
 
The Golden Knights jumped out to a 4-0 lead in game two and held on for a 4-3 win. Caggiano got things going with an RBI single to single to center in the top of the first. She struck again with an RBI double in the top of the third. Second baseman Krystin Messier made it 3-0 in the same inning with another RBI single. Clarkson scored its fourth run of the contest on an error in the fourth.
 
Freshman shortstop Grace Folmsbee (Red Hook, N.Y./Red Hook) drove in Hyland with a single up the middle in the bottom of the fourth to close the gap to 4-1. Brace drove in senior pitcher Samantha Hubinsky (Gansevoort, N.Y./South Glens Falls) in the bottom of the fifth to get the Bears within two.
 
Potsdam generated another rally in the bottom of the seventh. Sophomore left fielder Lucy Condon (Kitchener, Ontario/St. David Catholic) got the Bears going with a one-out double to right and then advanced to third on a Hubinsky fly out. Brace continued to be clutch with a single to center that plated Condon and made it a 4-3 contest. However, Golden Knights reliever Leah Allen got a loud final out off the bat of Fish to close the door.
 
Hubinsky (1-4) allowed four runs, three earned, on nine hits in four innings. Fish pitched the final three innings without allowing a run on four hits. Maggie Stark (1-8) was the victor for Clarkson, allowing two runs on seven hits and two K's in five innings. Allen claimed the save after giving up one run on two hits in two innings.
 
Hubinsky was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Brace was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Folmsbee was 2-for-3 with an RBI and freshman catcher Shelby Van Epps (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) was 1-for-3 with a run scored.
 
The Bears are back in action tomorrow when they travel to Oswego State for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.