Despite a dazzling pitching performance by senior Megan Briner (Corinth, N.Y. / Corinth), the Bears right-hander took the hard-luck fate in getting nipped 1-0 at SUNY Cortland in game two of a conference doubleheader on a sunny and warm Monday afternoon.

Briner stayed in control throughout the majority of the game by tossing a complete game and lowering her overall earned run average by more than half a run.

But, the game was decided in the bottom of the third inning when Jamie Bucci reached on an error, stole second base and move to third on a single by Diane Cork. After a 1-3 double play, it presented the opportunity to get out of the inning without any damage.

However, another fielding error on a come backer hit by Alicia Hibbert caused Bucci to score the winning run.

Briner (1-8) worked six innings and allowed just two hits, no earned runs and two walks. She induced 10 fly ball outs and seven ground ball outs.

At the plate, sophomore second baseman Alexis Lerman (Fayetteville, N.Y. / Jamesville-Dewitt) batted 2-for-3 with a double for her second multi-hit game of the season.

Sophomore first baseman Katie Marsman (Wantagh, N.Y. / Wantagh) and senior catcher Shannon Pagliaro (Beacon, N.Y. / Beacon) each collected a hit for the Bears (4-20 overall, 3-9 SUNYAC).

Marsman, who is currently hitting .306 on the season, has at least one hit in 13 of her last 15 games. Pagliaro picked up her first hit of the season.

Sarah Salamone (10-2) earned the victory for the Red Dragons (21-13 overall, 12-4 SUNYUAC) by pitching a shutout while allowing four hits, and a walk. She struck out two.

In game one, the Red Dragons topped the Bears 8-0 in six innings.

Cork batted 2-for-3 with a double and a pair of RBIs, Hibbert drove in two runs on a double and Erin Wolstenholme and Devynn Wilder each had a RBI and a run scored for Cortland.

The Red Dragons scored six runs on six hits in the bottom of the third inning.

Freshman Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y. / Hilton) hit 2-for-3 out of her usual leadoff spot, Noelle Rufa (Helena, N.Y. / St. Lawrence Central) drew two walks while Marsman and Megan Johnson (Heuvelton, N.Y. / Heuvelton) each picked up a hit.

Amber Corrigan and Alexandrea Flint (6-5) each pitched three scoreless innings for Cortland.

The Bears' best opportunity came in the top of the first inning when Ott singled, Rufa walked and Marsman singled. But a fielder's choice out a home, strike out and ground out to the pitcher ended its' threat.

Potsdam will not receive much rest as the Bears will quickly turn around to play at SUNY Canton Tuesday at 3 p.m. for a nonconference doubleheader.