JOHNSON, VT.—The SUNY Potsdam softball team (11-24) downed Johnson State (7-19) 12-3 in the first game of a doubleheader, before falling 7-3 in the finale.

In the opener, the Bears took the lead in the top of the first and never looked back. Senior captain Katie Marsman (Wantagh, N.Y./Wyoming Seminary) drove in senior left fielder Carina Chirinko (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) to make it 1-0 in the top of the first. Potsdam added three more in the top of the second. Junior shortstop Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) hit an RBI triple that scored senior third baseman Samantha Cohn (Monticello, N.Y./Monticello) and then scored on an error by the catcher in the top of the second. Sophomore pitcher Sami Hubinsky (South Glens Falls, N.Y./SUNY Adirondack) then scored on an error by the shortstop to make it 4-0.

The Badgers got two back with a double and a single in the bottom of the third and closed the gap to 4-3 with another single in the fourth. However, the Bears broke the game open with six runs on four hits and two errors in the top of the fifth. Hubinsky stole home to score the first run of the inning. Senior captain Alexis Lerman (Fayetteville, N.Y./Jamesville-DeWitt) then knocked in Marsman with a sacrifice fly to right. Potsdam took a 7-3 lead when Junior right fielder Noelle Rufa (Helena, N.Y./St. Lawrence Central) drove in sophomore designated player Lauren Brace (Moriah, N.Y./Moriah) with a double. Three batters later, Ott doubled in Cohn and freshman center fielder Brooke Falsion (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport). An error on the next play brought in Ott and the Bears led 10-3.

Potsdam tacked on the final two runs in the top of the sixth. Rufa singled in Brace and junior pinch hitter Kolbi Lyon (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Plattsburgh) knocked in Lerman with a sacrifice fly to close the scoring at 12-3. Hubinsky worked around leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth to end the contest.

Hubinsky improved to 4-9 with the complete game performance. She allowed three runs on seven hits in the six innings, while striking out five and walking one. Connor Kelsey was the loser after allowing four runs on four hits in the first four innings. Kaitlynn Woodward gave up eight runs on seven hits and three walks in the last two innings.

Ott was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBI. Hubinsky and Marsman were each 3-for-4. Hubinsky scored twice and Marsman had a run and two RBI.

In game two, Shannon Grier hit a grand slam in the bottom of the first and Potsdam was never able to catch up. Chirinko got the Bears within 4-1 in the top of third with a triple that scored Ott. The Badgers countered with three more runs on four hits in the bottom of the fifth to make it 7-1. Lerman stole home to start a rally in the top of the sixth. Rufa scored on a sac fly off the bat of Falsion and the Bears were within 7-3, but they couldn't get any closer.

Potsdam sophomore pitcher Meghan Dougherty (East Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia) (4-8) allowed four runs on three hits in the first inning. Freshman Alissa McCauley (Malone, N.Y./Franklin Academy) allowed three runs on six hits over the next 4.1 innings. She struck out three. Chirinko closed out the game with 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three. Andrea Williams earned the victory after giving up just a run on six hits, a walk and five strikeouts in 4.2. Hannah Leroux allowed two runs on two hits in the last 2.1.

Chirinko was 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Bears.

Potsdam is back in action at home against SUNY Canton at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow. The Bears and Roos will resume a game suspended for darkness on April 12, with Potsdam leading 5-4. They will then play another full game afterward.