FT. MYERS, FLA.- For the fourth straight day, the SUNY Potsdam softball team earned a split of their doubleheader. The Bears (6-4) were defeated 3-1 by Curry College but rebounded to take a 3-2 victory over St. Joseph’s (Brooklyn). Sophomore Ashley Thayer took a no-hitter into the seventh inning only three days after keeping Mount Saint Mary’s out of the hit column in the win.

Potsdam wasted little time jumping ahead 1-0 in their first at bat. Freshman Sami Brown led off the inning with a single and promptly stole second base. After being sacrificed to third, Brown scored on a wild pitch. Curry (3-2) tied the game in the fourth and then took the lead for good in the fifth. They added another insurance run in the seventh to ensure the victory. Senior Brittany Pawlowski earned the tough-luck loss. She went five strong innings allowed four hits and two runs while striking out eight batters. Brown went 2-for-3 with two steals as the Bears could only muster three hits off Taylor Ahearn.

In the second game, Potsdam jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Brown had a clutch at-bat with two outs and the bases loaded. Brown came through with a double down the leftfield line that scored two runners. St. Joseph’s added one in the bottom of the inning on a wild pitch which cut the lead to 2-1. The Bears tacked on another run in the top of the third only a sacrifice fly from sophomore Molly McCuin. Thayer kept St. Joseph’s (0-1) out of the hit column until the seventh inning and came three batters away from a second no-hitter. Thayer hit the leadoff batter in the final inning and then Mabel Vargas hit a double. Thayer then forced a fielder’s choice out at third base with a run scoring to cut the lead to 3-2. The last hitter popped out to right field to end the game. Brown led the offense, going 2-for-4 and Pawlowski also had two hits and a run scored. Thayer struck out 11 batters in another dominant performance.

Tomorrow, the Bears conclude their trip with a doubleheader. Potsdam takes on Olivet at 1 p.m. and then Hamilton at 3 p.m.