CLERMONT, FLA.—The SUNY Potsdam softball team (2-8) closed out its Spring Break trip to Florida with a blowout 9-3 victory over Roger Williams University (0-2). In the earlier contest, the Bears fell to Finlandia University (2-9) 5-3. On the day, Potsdam junior Katie Marsman (Wantagh, N.Y./Wyoming Seminary) was 4-for-7 with three runs scored and a two-run homer.
 
Finlandia jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly and wild pitch. The Bears countered in the bottom of the inning. Junior pitcher Carina Chirinko (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) reached with a one out walk. Marsman followed with a double to right field. Freshman catcher Lauren Brace (Moriah, N.Y./Moriah) then doubled in both runners to tie the score.
 
Finlandia pushed across another run in the top of the fifth with another sac fly, but the Bears answered again. Sophomore right fielder Emily Tremblay (Fort Covington, N.Y./Salmon River) was hit by a pitch to leadoff the bottom of the fifth and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Junior second baseman Alexis Lerman (Fayetteville, N.Y./Jamesville-DeWitt) bunted Tremblay to third and sophomore shortstop Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) drove her in with a single up the middle. The Lions added a run in both the sixth and seventh and held on for a 5-3 victory.
 
Chirinko fell to 1-4 despite six strong innings on the mound. She allowed four runs, three earned, on four hits, while striking out six and walking four. Senior pitcher Megan Briner (Corinth, N.Y./Corinth) allowed a run on two hits in her one inning of work.
 
Marsman and freshman designated hitter Chelsea Streeter (Massena, N.Y./Massena) each finished the game 2-for-3.
 
Nicole Dall pitched a complete game to earn the win. She allowed three runs while scattering six hits, walking two and striking out three. Amanda Youker led the Finlandia offense with two hits in three at-bats and two runs scored.
 
Potsdam jumped on Roger Williams early in the second game. Chirinko singled to left and Marsman followed with a two-run bomb to make it 2-0. Lerman led off the top of the second with a single to right. The ball was misplayed and Lerman came all the way around to score.
 
Ott led off third with a triple and Chirinko drove her in with single. A walk to Brace and a single by Lerman then loaded the bases. Sophomore first baseman Erin Murphy (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) followed with a double to left center field, driving in Chirinko and Brace to give Potsdam a commanding 6-0 lead. A Lerman RBI single and a two-run error by the Hawks put the Bears up 9-0.
 
Roger Williams finally broke up the shutout with two runs in the bottom of the fifth on a single and an error. A Hawk sac fly in the sixth made it 9-3, but they couldn't get any closer.
 
Freshman pitcher Jaime Hoskins (Fairport, N.Y/Fairport) earned her first collegiate victory after allowing one earned run on six hits in 4.2 innings. She struck out three and didn't walk a single batter. Dougherty finished up the game, allowing one run on five hits in the final 2.1 innings.
 
Both Chirinko and Lerman were 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Marsman was 2-for-4 with two RBI's and two runs scored and Ott finished 2-for-4 with and RBI.
 
Tori Milano (0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing six runs, five earned, on seven hits in 3 innings pitched. Mary Adametz allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits over the final four innings.
 
Adametz was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Taylor Messier and Chelsea Boulrisse both went 2-for-4.
 
The Bears return home tonight and are off for three weeks. Next, Potsdam hosts Plattsburgh for two on March 27 to open its SUNYAC schedule if spring ever returns to the North Country.