POTSDAM, N.Y.- The SUNY Potsdam (8-12, 1-5 SUNYAC) softball team was swept by New Paltz in conference play this afternoon. New Paltz took the first game 8-4 and scored ten unanswered runs in a 15-4 win in the second game.

In the first game, the Hawks (10-10, 4-0) jumped ahead 1-0 but the Bears rallied. In the bottom of the first, freshman Sami Brown ignited the rally with a bunt base hit and then moved to second on a wild pitch. A New Paltz error put runners on second and third and Brown would come home on a RBI groundout from sophomore Ashley Thayer. Junior Jenny Jones knocked in the second run of the inning with a solid single to right field. Jones would add another RBI base hit in the third and Brown added an RBI of her own giving the Bears a 4-1 lead in the fourth inning. However, New Paltz would score the final seven runs of the game to claim the victory.

Molly Zehler (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) went 3-for-3 with a run scored to lead the offense. Thayer took the loss, giving up 12 hits and eight runs in seven innings.

The Hawks bats were hot in the second game and they jumped out to a ten run lead in the top of the fourth. The Bears would battle back on an RBI from Erin Klettke and then a two-run homerun off the bat of senior Katie Nawrot. The blast cleared the left field fence and was the second homer of the season. Potsdam would tack on another run in the bottom of the fifth on a Thayer triple and an RBI base hit from senior Brittany Pawlowski but the Hawks would put the game away with a five-run sixth.

Molly McCuin went 2-for-3 for the Bears and Chelsea Kull had four RBI’s for the Hawks who pounded out 18 hits. Sophomore Megan Johnson took the loss and Meg Brewer recorded the victory.

The Bears return to action tomorrow with a doubleheader against Oneonta St. First pitch is schedule for noon.