CLERMONT, FLA.—The SUNY Potsdam softball team (1-1) opened up the 2017 season with a hard fought split, falling to 24th ranked MIT 2-1 before rebounding to down Thomas College (Maine) 6-2 in the finale. Sophomore Alissa McCauley (Malone, N.Y./Franklin Academy) and freshman Megan Fish (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North) each pitched a gem, while freshman left fielder Lucy Condon (Kitchener, Ontario/St. David Catholic) had three hits, two RBI and two stolen bases on the day.
 
The Bears started quickly against the Engineers. Senior shortstop Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) led off the top of the first with a walk and was moved to second on a bunt single by Condon. With two outs, freshman designated player Day Stevens (Ravena, N.Y./Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) singled up the middle to drive in Ott for her first collegiate hit and RBI. MIT tied the game in the bottom of the first on an RBI double from designated player Ravenne Nasser. The pitchers clamped down on the offense for the rest of the game.
 
From the second through the sixth innings, McCauley scattered four hits. She worked out a jam in the top of the fifth, striking out one Engineer and getting MIT left fielder Natalie Shifflet to line out to Bears sophomore centerfielder Brooke Falsion (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport). Falsion then threw out Engineer second baseman Monica Shifflet at the plate to complete the double play and end the inning.
 
Falsion led off the top of the sixth with a single and a stolen base, but was stranded on third to end the inning. McCauley worked around two singles in the bottom of the sixth after one out and runners on second and third.
 
MIT finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh. After McCauley had retired the first two Engineers, centerfielder Jasmin Joseph tripled to right field. In the next at bat, Natalie Shifflet brought her in for the walk off victory on a bunt single.
 
McCauley (0-1) allowed the two earned runs on 10 hits and one walk over 6.2 innings pitched. She struck out five. MIT pitcher Amber VanHermel (1-0) allowed just one earned run on four hits and three walks as she went the distance. She struck out 10 Bears.
 
Stevens, Condon, Falsion and freshman second baseman Sarah Hyland (Stony Brook, N.Y./Ward Melville) accounted for Potsdam's hits in the contest.
 
 
The Bears grabbed an early lead against the Terriers in the second game as well. In the bottom of the first, Condon doubled with one out and stole third base. Fish followed with a single to drive her in for a 1-0 lead. Fish led off the bottom of the third with a walk. She moved to second on a walk and advanced to third on a single up the middle by junior third baseman Chelsea Streeter (Massena, N.Y./Massena). Hyland then knocked her in with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.
 
Thomas rallied to tie the score in the top of the fourth with three hits. Terriers catcher Lauren Farina and designated player Sarahjane Call finally solved Fish with an RBI single apiece.
 
After Fish kept Thomas off the board in the top of the fifth, the Bears regained the lead in the bottom half. Fish led off with an infield hit and was pinch run for by freshman Lacey Saucier (Williamstown, N.Y./APW). Saucier moved to second on a wild pitch, then third on a ground out before coming around to score on another passed ball.  
 
Junior pitcher Meghan Dougherty (East Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia) relieved Fish in the top of the sixth. She escaped unscathed after stranding runners at first and third to preserve the lead. Dougherty then started a three-run bottom of the sixth with a leadoff single. Two batters later, Ott lined an RBI single to center to make it 4-2. Condon followed with another single up the middle that scored Ott and Falsion and the Bears led 6-2 after six.
 
Dougherty worked around a two on, one out situation in the top of the seventh to preserve the victory and record her second career save.
 
Fish (1-0) allowed two earned runs on five hits and two walks over five innings, while striking out four for her first collegiate victory. Dougherty pitched two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk. Sydney LeBourveau (2-4) gave up six runs, four earned, on nine hits and a walk over five plus innings. Haley Littlefield retired all three Bears she faced.
 
Offensively, Condon was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Fish was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run. Streeter was 2-for-3 and Dougherty, Ott and Falsion provided the other hits for Potsdam.
 
The Bears are back in action tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. to kick off a doubleheader with the University of Maine-Farmington.