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Bears softball rally for split with Fredonia

Posted 4/29/17

POTSDAM, N.Y.—After falling 1-0 to Fredonia (14-22, 4-12 SUNYAC) in 8 innings in game one, the SUNY Potsdam softball team (9-22, 2-14) rallied for a 7-3 win in game two. Sophomore center fielder …

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Bears softball rally for split with Fredonia

Posted

POTSDAM, N.Y.—After falling 1-0 to Fredonia (14-22, 4-12 SUNYAC) in 8 innings in game one, the SUNY Potsdam softball team (9-22, 2-14) rallied for a 7-3 win in game two. Sophomore center fielder Brooke Falsion (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport) was 3-for-6 with two runs scored on the afternoon.

The Blue Devils loaded the bases on an error and two walks with one out in the top of the first. Freshman pitcher Megan Fish (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North) got out of the jam with an unconventional double play. Sophomore designated player Mallory Mecca (Derby, N.Y./Eden) grounded into a fielder's choice that forced one runner out at home. The second runner got into a rundown after Mecca reached safely and was thrown out at home.

Fredonia threatened again in the bottom of the third. Freshman pitcher Katie Yudin (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) led off with a single up the middle and moved all the way to third on a sac bunt by freshman second baseman Maddi Cooley (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva). Junior left fielder Lauren Pixley (Hamburg, N.Y./Frontier) tried to bunt in Yudin, but Bears senior first baseman Erin Murphy (Kingtson, N.Y./Kingston) charged in and delivered the ball to senior catcher Angela Yodis (Duanesburg, N.Y./Schalmont) in time for the tag at the plate.

The Bears threatened in the bottom of the third after senior right fielder Kolbi Lyon (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Plattsburgh) singled to left. Falsion then reached on a fielder's choice and an error. Freshman left fielder Lucy Condon (Kitchener, Ontario/St. David Catholic) bunted the runners to second and third with one out. However, Yudin recovered to strike out the next two to escape.

In the top of the eighth, Cooley singled up the middle and was bunted to second by Pixley. Junior first baseman Katelyn Dennis (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) followed with a double to deep right field to plate the decisive run.

With one out in the bottom of the inning, Falsion singled to left. She was then erased at second on a force that left Condon at first. Down to the final out, senior shortstop Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) launched a shot to left that seemed destined to tie the score. Pixley laid out to her left to make a diving grab and preserve the win.

Fish (4-6) allowed one run on six hits, four walks and four strikeouts. Yudin (7-9) completed the four-hit shutout with just one walk and three strikeouts.

The finale was scoreless until the top of the fourth. Fredonia scored three runs with two outs on an RBI single from Yudin and a two-run single from Cooley.

The Bears bats finally got going in the bottom of the fourth. Falsion led off with a single and freshman first baseman Emma McCarthy (Stone Ridge, N.Y./Rondout Valley) reached on a fielder's choice. Ott then reached on an error, which scored Falsion. Junior catcher Lauren Brace (Moriah, N.Y./Moriah) drove in Potsdam's second run with an RBI bunt single. After Ott, stole third, freshman designated player Day Stevens (Ravena, N.Y./Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) knocked her in with a single to left to tie the game.

Sophomore pitcher Alissa McCauley (Malone, N.Y./Franklin Academy) retired the Blue Devils in order in the top of the fifth and the Bears offense went to work again. Brace hit a one out single to left to score Falsion for the eventual game-winning run. The hit forced Fredonia freshman starter Sam Seegar (North Towanda, N.Y./Starpoint) from the mound for sophomore reliever Emily Shellenberger (Philadelphia, Pa./Little Flower Catholic). Shellenberger walked her first hitter, junior third baseman Chelsea Streeter (Massena, N.Y./Massena), and then gave up a single to Stevens to make it 5-3. Freshman second baseman Sarah Highland (Stony Brook, N.Y./Ward Melville) drove in another run on a ground out and Streeter scored the final run on a wild pitch.

McCauley stranded two Blue Devils in the sixth inning and then set them down in order in the seventh to seal the win.

McCauley (2-8) picked up the win in relief after allowing just one hit and walk in 3.1 innings pitched. She struck out two Blue Devils. Sophomore starter Meghan Dougherty (East Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia) got the no decision after allowing three runs, one earned, on eight hits in 3.2 innings. Seegar (3-8) was tagged with the loss after allowing six runs, five earned, on eight hits and a strikeout in 4.1 innings. Shellenberger allowed a run on one hit, a walk and a strikeout in the final 1.2 innings.

The Bears will close out the season tomorrow afternoon when they host Buffalo State at 12 and 2 p.m. on Senior Day.