POTSDAM, N.Y.—Clarkson University (13-5) spoiled the SUNY Potsdam softball team's (6-10) home opener by sweeping a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. Twice the Golden Knights rallied from early deficits to capture 13-1 and 11-4 decisions from the Bears.
In game one, senior captain
Katie Marsman (Wantagh, N.Y./Wyoming Seminary) drove in junior shortstop
Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) with RBI single in the top of the first. It was all Clarkson after that as the Golden Knights answered with four in the second and third and five in the fourth for the five-inning win.
Golden Knights junior pitcher Jamie Bridges (Plymouth, Conn./Terryville) (6-1) held the Bears to just a run on one hits, while striking out five and walking one in four innings pitched. Freshman Maggie Stark (Newfields, N.H./St. Thomas Aquinas) allowed a hit in the final inning.
Bears sophomore
Meghan Dougherty (East Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia) (2-4) allowed four earned runs on six hits and a walk in two innings. Freshman
Alissa McCauley (Malone, N.Y./Franklin Academy) was roughed up for seven runs on nine hits and two walks in the last three innings. She recorded three strikeouts.
Clarkson grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the first in game two, but Potsdam countered with a four-run bottom of the inning. Ott scored the first run after senior pitcher
Carina Chirinko (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) reached on a fielder's choice. Chirinko then came around to score the second run on a wild pitch to tie the game. Senior third baseman
Samantha Cohn (Monticello, N.Y./Monticello) gave the Bears the lead with a two-run double to left that scored sophomore designated hitter
Lauren Brace (Moriah, N.Y./Moriah) and senior captain
Alexis Lerman (Fayetteville, N.Y./Jamesville-DeWitt).
Potsdam held the 4-2 lead until Clarkson broke out with six runs on six hits and four Bear errors in the top of the fifth. The Golden Knights then tacked on a run in the sixth and two in the seventh for the 11-4 final.
Junior Katie Pelton (Auburn, N.H./Trinity) earned a no decision after allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks in the opening six innings. Freshman Meg Tully (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) (2-3) earned the win in relief with a perfect seventh.
Chirinko (1-1) allowed five earned runs on eight hits and five walks, while fanning three in 5.1 innings. McCauley allowed four earned runs on four hits and a walk in the final 1.2. She struck out two Golden Knights.
Potsdam closes its home stand with a doubleheader against Morrisville State (4-6) on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
