CLERMONT, FLA.—The SUNY Potsdam softball team (1-1) opened its 2016 campaign with a split. The Bears walked off with a 5-4 win over Pitt-Greensburg (0-2) in the first contest, thanks to a game-winning single from sophomore third baseman Lauren Brace (Moriah, N.Y./Moriah). In the day's finale, Cedar Crest College used a three-run fifth to rally past Potsdam for a 5-3 victory.
 
The Bobcats drew first blood in the early contest, grabbing a 1-0 lead as second baseman Kelly Hutchinson scored on an error in the infield. Senior captain Katie Marsman (Wantagh, N.Y./Wyoming Seminary) answered in the bottom of the third with a double to right field that scored sophomore pitcher Sami Hubinsky (South Glens Falls, N.Y./SUNY Adirondack) to tie the game. Two innings later, Hubinsky tripled and scored after a rundown on the same play to give the Bears their first lead at 2-1.
 
The Bobcats scored two runs with a two-out rally in the top of the sixth to regain a 3-2 edge. After two walks and a single, a Potsdam error allowed pitcher Marley Lafferty and first baseman Kara Barclay to score. The Bears countered with two runs to go in front 4-3 in the bottom of the inning. Marsman led off with a walk and was pinch run for by junior Noelle Rufa (Helena, N.Y./St. Lawrence Central). Rufa Stole second and moved to third on a single by senior captain Alexis Lerman (Fayetteville, N.Y./Jamesville-DeWitt). Rufa then scored on a ground out to second by senior right fielder Samantha Cohn (Monticello, N.Y./Monticello). Junior first baseman Erin Murphy (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) then put Potsdam up with a successful suicide squeeze that brought in Lerman.
 
With two outs in the top of the seventh, centerfielder Alyssa Panza homered to get the Bobcats even at 4-4. In the bottom of the inning, Pitt-Greensburg failed to get a single Bear out. Junior shortstop Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) led off with a walk and stole second. Senior left fielder Carina Chirinko (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) and Hubinsky each followed with walks to load the bases. Brace then ended the contest with a singled down the left field line.
 
Hubinsky was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two walks and Ott, Marsman, Brace and Lerman also had a hit each. Four different Bears knocked in runs.
 
Hubinsky allowed three unearned runs in 5.2 innings with eight strikeouts, four hits and six walks. Freshman Alissa McCauley (North Bangor, N.Y./Franklin Academy) (1-0) earned her first collegiate win in relief, allowing just a run on one hit in 1.1 innings. Lafferty (0-1) went the distance for the Bobcats, allowing five earned runs on six hits and seven walks.
 
 
In the second game, Falcons catcher Rachel Stump capped a two-out rally in the bottom of the third with a single up the middle to put Cedar Crest up 1-0. Potsdam took the lead back in the top of the fourth. After Hubinsky reached on an error, Marsman singled and Hubinsky came around to score. Brace then drove Marsman in with another single to make it 2-1. The Falcons tied the score in the bottom of the inning with an RBI double off the bat of first baseman Molly Schnaubelt.
 
Cedar Crest then scored three times in the bottom of the fifth. The Falcons loaded the bases with nobody out on a triple and two walks.  At that point, Chirinko relieved sophomore Meghan Dougherty (East Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia) on the mound. Chirinko got the first hitter to ground into a fielder's choice and Lerman got the lead runner at home on the force. Chirinko then struck out Cedar Creek right fielder Kelly Reading, but the third strike was wild and left fielder Jackie Gallagher came into score the go ahead run from third. Designated hitter Nicole Ortiz-Siffel then knocked in two more with a single up the middle. Marsman got Potsdam within 5-3 in the top of the sixth with a single that scored Hubinsky, but the Bears couldn't get any closer.
 
Hubinsky was 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Brace matched her with an RBI and Marsman was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run.
 
Laura Rau (1-0) earned the victory with a complete game. She allowed two earned runs on four hits and three walks, while striking out two. Dougherty (0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing all five runs on six hits and four walks. Chirinko pitched two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk and striking out one.
 
The Bears are back in action tomorrow with two more games. They face the Sage Colleges Gators at 9 a.m. and the Simmons College Sharks at 11 a.m.