CLERMONT, FLA.-- The SUNY Potsdam softball team (0-2) fell in its contests against Simpson College (3-1) 9-5 and Carroll University (3-2) 4-2, on the first day of the Spring Break Trip. Junior
Megan Fish (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North) went 2-for-4 with three RBI game one, while freshman left fielder
Vanessa Brandt (Saugerties, N.Y./Saugerties) went 2-for-5 on the day scoring twice.
The Storm got things moving in the first inning scoring one after an error. Claire Oetting followed up with a single up the middle bringing in Kayley Thomas and getting an early 2-0 lead.
The Bears put up four runs in the third inning. Entering the box in a bases loaded situation, Fish singled to right and scored two. Freshman designated hitter
Abby Vaughn (Apalachin, N.Y./Owego Free Academy) singled up the middle, bringing in another, and sophomore third baseman
Sydney Miller (Hoosick Falls, N.Y./Hoosick Falls) brought in Fish after getting hit by a pitch.
Simpson College took the lead for good with four runs in the fourth inning. Camrey Leo was struck by a pitch driving a run. The next batter, Thomas, singled up the middle on a 2-1 count scoring another. The Storm got their third run off a wild pitch, and Arianna Kim drew a walk to score the final run of the inning.
In the top of the seventh with two outs, Fish hit a double to center field and scored Brandt, to get within four. Potsdam could not get any closer however and Simpson College got the 9-5 victory.
Senior captain
Alissa McCauley (Malone, N.Y./Franklin Academy) started in the circle for Potsdam. She went three innings, allowing two unearned runs on two hits and struck out one. Sophomore
Kiera Nesbitt (Sound Beach, N.Y./Miller Place) (0-1) received the loss after facing six batters and allowing four runs. Freshman
Sierra Ashley (Lisbon, N.Y./Lisbon) had her collegiate debut out of the bullpen and threw for three innings, allowed two earned runs and struck out one.
Mary Leopold started for the Storm and went 2.2 innings, allowing four runs while striking out two. Randie Richmond (1-0) got the win after pitching two innings, allowed one hit and struck out one.
Junior second baseman
Sarah Hyland (Stony Brook, N.Y./Ward Melville), senior shortstop
Brooke Falsion (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport), Brandt and Vaughn each collected a hit for the Bears.
Thomas, Amron Born and Megan Crockett each had multiple hits for Simpson College.
In game two against Carroll University, Potsdam got things started in the first with freshman first baseman
Claire Donaldson (Lisbon, N.Y./Lisbon) grounding to second, scoring Falsion. Vaughn kept the scoring going, singling to right field bringing Brandt across home.
The Pioneers got one back in the bottom of the second when Kelsey Edwards hit into a fielder's choice and scored Lexy Keminitzer.
Carroll took the lead with three runs in the third. Lexy Kemnitzer singled on a 0-1 count scoring one, while Katelyn Schneider singled on a 3-1 count scoring another. Kaylee Learman's sac fly to right got the final runner across home.
For the rest of the game, the Bears could not get anything going with the bats and were defeated 4-2.
Fish (0-1) received the loss after pitching six innings, allowing 15 hits and four runs.
Kaylee Learman got the start for Carroll. She allowed three hits and two runs in one inning. Kemnitzer (1-0) got the win after pitching the final six innings, allowed no hits and struck out eight.
Brandt, Falsion and Vaughn had a hit for the Bears.
Potsdam returns to action on Sunday for day two of the Spring Break Trip. They start the day off against Becker College at 4:30 p.m. followed by Pittsburgh at Greensburg at 6:30 p.m.
