Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Clermont, FL — With a day of rest, the State University of New York at New Paltz softball team bounced back Wednesday at Hancock Field and earned its first win of the PFX THE Spring Games Tournament against St. Lawrence University, 3-2, breaking a five-game losing skid.
 
"I do think that it was a big effort to try to find what was going to work," said Hawks coach Samantha Miller. "We were able to get some good vibes going in that game. We started getting back to what New Paltz softball is about in terms of batting and defense. Especially with these injuries it's taking a lot out of us emotionally and physically, so we're putting people in positions that they don't normally play, but it goes a long way to see people stepping up and being able to do big jobs in big situations."
 
SUNY New Paltz (4-6) got another solid day in the circle from both of its starters in Alyssa Pfitscher and Lauren Cappello. Pfitscher pitched against the Saints and earned her second win of the season after going a full seven innings, giving up just four hits, no walks, while striking out three in the game with one earned run.
 
"Honestly, I was a little nervous going in because of our losing streak, but as soon as I saw the way everyone was fielding I was very confident that we were going to win," Pfitscher said. "I knew that I was going to have to hold it together, limit my walks to as small as possible."
 
The Saints (5-3) got on the board early, capitalizing off a hard hit RBI double by Caitlin Syphurs to go up 1-0. Pfitscher limited the damage, however, getting the following batter to fly-out to keep game within one run.
 
SUNY New Paltz bats backed Pfitscher up in the following inning. Madison Rappold reached second base on a throwing error to lead off and Pfitscher then moved her over with a single down the right field line. Three batters later, Julia DiSpigna knocked a ball right up the middle of the infield, scoring both Rappold and Pfitscher with a two RBI double.
 
The Hawks tacked on one more, as Katie Conrad moved Dispigna over to third following a single over the third base side. Caroline Alicandri then plated Dispigna the following at-bat with a hard-hit single to short, pushing the score, 3-1.
 
"We were just putting our bat on the ball and putting it in the right spots," Conrad said. "Effective hitting is the best hitting that way you can drive a run in. Whatever works."
 
Pfitscher then threw four-straight 1-2-3 innings, before allowing a two-out double in the bottom of the sixth. But, she then stranded the runner with a pop out the following at-bat to keep the two run lead for her team.
 
"Alyssa pitched very good and she was able to hit her spots really well," Miller said. "Fortunately, we're playing tough teams and it's unfortunate to see the losses on the scoreboard and in the book, but at the end of the day we know we're able to work on all those kinks that are the reason why we come down to Florida."
 
The Saints fought back and had a mini rally in the bottom of the seventh. Syphurs led off with a home run to deep centerfield to cut the deficit, but Pfitscher quickly regrouped and her defense backed her up fielding three-straight groundouts to end the game, with Conrad capping the game off with a highlight play, diving to make a great stop at short and throwing the runner out at first to finalize the win.
 
"It was pretty cool, not going to lie," Conrad said. "When you get it in your glove and feel the oomph and you're like, 'I got this.' You just got to get up and make the throw. Adrenaline is pumping, it felt good to end the game with that."
 
It was the third-straight one run game for the Hawks, who lost in a tight contest against Washington and Jefferson College (3-6) in the first game of the day, 4-3.
   
Washington and Jefferson earned all three of its runs in the top of the fourth, as Taylor Andres started the inning with a lead off single. After sacrifice bunt the next at-bat, Andres moved to third following a Brooke McCleester single.
 
Cappello got the second out the follow batter on a swinging strikeout, but the Presidents capitalized with back-to-back RBI singles, before Cappello finished the inning with another strikeout to hold the game at 3-0.
 
The Hawks rallied in the final inning. Julia Perhacs got it started with a leadoff single and Conrad followed with a slow hit ball to short, hustling down the line and beating out the throw for a single.
 
After Perhacs and Conrad were both moved over two batters later, Fee again stepped up and cranked a deep shot to center field for a sacrifice fly, plating Conrad and cutting the score, 4-3 with two outs.
 
But, the rally ended there as Andres grounded out the side to secure the win.
 
"I do think it was situational hitting and then I think it was definitely taking away those little things that allowed the other team to take advantage of our mistakes," said Miller of the loss. "Walking the first batter, not being able to catch foul balls, little tiny dinkers that aren't base hits, but then go in the books as base hits. Lauren and Alyssa both pitched very good and it was just a matter of our defense being able to back them up and I think the second game went really well. I am just glad we're getting back to our core."
 
Cappello finished the game with five strikeouts in seven innings worth of work, while allowing 12 hits, three walks and three earned runs.
 
Conrad led the team offensively, going 3-for-8 with a run, while Dispigna had two hits a run scored and two RBI. Fee added two RBIs, while Meagan Blair had an RBI to go along with an extra base hit.
 
The Hawks hope to build off Wednesday's win Thursday when it takes on Worcester State University (Massachusetts) and Hope College (Michigan) at 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., respectively. Be sure to follow @nphawks on Twitter and @newpaltzhawks on Instagram and Facebook for updates, highlights, videos, photos and more.