Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 POTSDAM, N.Y. – The SUNY Potsdam softball team competed well against a perennial national powerhouse, but was unable to come away with a win to show for it against No. 10 Cortland in a State University of New York Athletic Conference doubleheader at Maxcy Hall's softball field.

The Bears lost a 1-0 heartbreaker in the second game after falling 6-0 in the opener. Potsdam wraps up its 2011 season with a 10-24 overall record, including a 1-17 mark in SUNYAC play.

In between games, Potsdam seniors Allison Breivogel (Bellmore, N.Y.), Jessica Brower (Staten Island, N.Y.), Susan Garrett (Queens Village, N.Y.) and Dana Vollmuth (Great River, N.Y.) were recognized in their last regular season game in a Bears uniform.

“They are great girls,” Potsdam coach Shannon Dillabough said. “Even though it may not show in our record, we've made strides as a program because of their contributions. We were competitive this year, and Allison really did a nice job of bringing the team together as our captain. All four have been a privilege to work with.”

In Game 2, Potsdam mustered just three hits, overshadowing a strong combined pitching performance by junior Brittany Pawlowski (West Seneca, N.Y.), junior Katie Nawrot (Buffalo, N.Y.) and freshman Ashley Thayer (Winthrop, N.Y.). The trio held the Red Dragons (32-3, 17-0) to five hits and one run, which scored on a wild pitch.

Cortland, which recently clinched its fifth straight regular season conference title, nearly broke the contest open after loading the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth inning. However, Thayer, who came on in relief of Nawrot earlier in the frame, allowed just one run to cross the plate, striking out two of the last three hitters she faced in the inning.

In the bottom half of the sixth, the Bears put runners on the corners with one out after a walk to Thayer and a single by Vollmuth. Two batters later, with the bases loaded and two outs, the Red Dragons ended the threat with a fielder's choice groundout back to the pitcher.

“We had chances to win,” Dillabough said. “It came down to two things, the wild pitch and not being able to get a hit in the sixth. We wanted this badly for our seniors. Our pitchers did an excellent job, and we certainly have things to build on for next year.”

Thayer (5-11) took the loss in relief, allowing just two base runners over the final two innings. Nawrot pitched 2 1/3 innings in relief of Pawlowski, who left the game in the third inning with an injury.

In the first game, the Red Dragons scored five runs in the fourth inning to break the game open, using five hits and taking advantage of a Potsdam error.

Thayer, who took the loss, battled against a potent Cortland lineup, allowing four runs in six innings of action while leaving 11 runners stranded. Junior Meaghan Patterson (Malone, N.Y.) worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning in relief.

Vollmuth led the Bears with two hits. Thayer and sophomore Amanda Perry (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) added one hit apiece.