SAUGERTIES, N.Y.—SUNY New Paltz (10-7, 3-1 SUNYAC) out-homered the SUNY Potsdam softball team (3-14, 0-6) 6-4 to take both games of a doubleheader on Friday afternoon. The Hawks took game one 14-5 and then held off the Bears 9-8 in 10 innings in game two. Sophomore shortstop Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) was 3-for-6 on the day with two home runs, four runs scored and three RBI's.

The Bears started quickly in game one as Ott led off the contest with a home run to center field. However, New Paltz left fielder Juila Perhacs answered in the bottom of the first with a leadoff homer of her own. The Hawks broke the game open in the bottom of the second with nine runs. The big blow came on a Nicole DeCosta grand slam with two outs to make it 10-1.

The Bears got a run back in the top of the third as Ott scored on a ground out. Two innings later junior pitcher Carina Chirinko (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) doubled in sophomore right fielder Noelle Rufa (Helena, N.Y./St. Lawrence Central) and junior catcher Katie Marsman (Wantagh, N.Y./Wyoming Seminary) followed with a two-run bomb to cut the deficit to 10-5. New Paltz struck for its last four runs in the bottom of the sixth and it was DeCosta blasting a three-run shot to put the exclamation point on the win.

Chirinko (1-7) allowed seven runs on two hits and four walks in the first 1.1 innings. Dougherty closed out the last 4.1 with seven runs, three earned, on eight hits, while striking out one. Hawk hurler Erika Trainer (1-1) went the full six innings for the win. She allowed three earned runs on six hits and recorded seven K's and two walks.

The nightcap was an evenly matched slugfest. New Paltz scored a run in each of the first two innings, highlighted by DeCosta's third homer of the day. The Bears loaded the bases in the top of the third and freshman catcher Lauren Brace (Moriah, N.Y./Moriah) crushed an 0-1 pitch to left center field for a grand slam. Freshman center fielder Lyndale Nephew (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Seton Catholic) followed with an RBI single that scored junior second baseman Alexis Lerman (Fayetteville, N.Y./Jamesville-DeWitt) and Potsdam led 5-2.

The Hawks rallied to take a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the fourth as Fallon Spriggs and Kiersten Carlomagno each hit home runs. Lerman scored on a ground out RBI from sophomore first baseman Erin Murphy (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) and the game was tied after four and a half. Spriggs hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth and New Paltz led 8-6. Ott stepped up again in the next frame, belting a two-run shot that scored Rufa and the game was tied again.

Potsdam freshman pitcher Jaime Hoskins (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) stranded six runners over the next 4.2 shut out innings, but the Hawks broke through in the bottom of the 10th. Spriggs was placed on second to start the frame as per the NCAA rule for extra innings. Spriggs was bunted to second base and then moved to third on a fielder's choice. New Paltz pitcher Katie Rutcofsky then got her self the win with a walk off RBI single to left center to score Spriggs.

Hoskins (1-7) was solid in 9.2 innings pitched. She allowed eight earned runs on 13 hits, while striking out four and walking two. The Bears roughed up Carlomagno in the first four innings. She allowed six runs, three earned, on seven hits and struck out three. Rukcofsky allowed just an earned run in six innings and struck out four without a walk.

Potsdam is back in action tomorrow at noon when the Bears head to Oneonta to take on the defending SUNYAC Champion Red Dragons.