TITUSVILLE, FL – The SUNY Potsdam softball team concluded their spring break trip to Florida with two losses to Prairie State (IL) Wednesday morning. The Bears close out the trip with a 5-1 record going into SUNYAC play.

The Pioneers would edge Potsdam 2-0 in the first game of the day. Both teams struggled to generate offense throughout the entire contest. Prairie State would strike first in the fourth inning off of an error to notch the game at 1-0. The Bears threatened to score in the top of the sixth with a runner in scoring position but the Pioneers denied the opportunity. Prairie State increased their lead in the bottom of the inning with another unearned run to secure the 2-0 shutout.

Senior captain Heather Johnson led the Bears going two for three and recording a stolen base. Freshman pitcher Jordan Sarat allowed four hits in five innings pitched and tallied two strikeouts. Junior Megan Johnson pitched one inning of relief and finished with one strikeout.

In the second contest, Prairie State downed Potsdam by a score of 15-5. The Pioneers would jump on the Bears early with two runs in the first inning. Senior Amanda Perry answered in the bottom of the first with a sacrifice fly to drive in junior Ashley Thayer. Shortly after, Thayer and H. Johnson recorded RBIs in the second inning to give Potsdam a 3-2 advantage. However, the Pioneers totaled five runs in three innings to reclaim a 7-3 lead. Perry looked to spark the Bears with another RBI in the fifth but Prairie State was able to stop the momentum. The Pioneers continued to roll adding two more runs in the top of the sixth to extend the lead to 9-4. Junior Khalshia White would try to regain some momentum in the bottom of the inning with a solo shot over the left center fence. Yet, Prairie State maintained their offensive barrage and cruised to a 15-5 decision.

Perry finished one for three with two RBIs and a double. Thayer allowed eight hits in four innings pitched and recorded three strikeouts. Freshman Carina Chirinko and M. Johnson each saw one inning of action on the mound.

The Bears return to New York to open up SUNYAC play on Friday, March 29 and Saturday, March 30 against Brockport and Geneseo.