CLERMONT, FLA.-- The SUNY Potsdam softball team (2-4) defeated Lasell College (0-2) 11-5 before falling to Wheaton (2-2) 7-4 on Monday afternoon. Senior captain Brooke Falsion (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport) went 6-for-8 with three RBI on the day and junior captain Lucy Condon (Kitchener, Ontario/St. David Catholic) went 4-for-4 with an RBI in game one.

The Lasers started game one with four runs in the first. Victoria Spellman scored a runner after hitting a triple to left and was able to score herself after a wild throw on the same play. Runners were on second and third when Alexis Truesdale doubled down the right field line, scoring both giving Lasell an early 4-0 lead.

The Bears battled back and cut the lead in half before the second. Freshman first baseman Claire Donaldson (Lisbon, N.Y./Lisbon) entered the batter's box with runners on second and third and hit a single through the left side to score one. Condon followed Donaldson with a single through the right side and scored another run.

Potsdam got a couple more runs in the bottom of the second. Sophomore right fielder Jen Darlak (Lockport, N.Y./Wilson) started the inning off with a single to center. After stealing second, Darlak got to third with a bunt by Falsion. Junior pitcher Megan Fish (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North) brought both runners in after a deep double to centerfield. The Bears entered the third tied at four.

The runs kept coming in the third when Potsdam scored six. Junior Abby Hodgdon (Hammond, N.Y./Hammond) was on third when Condon stole second and forced the catcher to throw the ball, giving Hodgdon plenty of time to cross home, and score the first run of the inning. Junior second baseman Sarah Hyland (Stony Brook, N.Y./Ward Melville) hit a single to right center and scored Condon and freshman Faith Ocampo (Bronx, N.Y./Fannie Lou Hammer Freedom). Falsion increased the lead to five when she brought in two more with a triple to left center. Fish followed up and brought in Falsion, giving the Bears a 10-4 lead after three.

In the bottom fifth Fish and Falsion had the exact scenario as Hodgdon and Condon in the third. Fish was on first and she stole second, allowing Falsion to cross the plate and make it an 11-4 lead.

In the top sixth, Spellman brought in a run to cut the deficit to six, but they could not get any closer and Potsdam won 11-5.

Fish (1-1) got the victory after pitching 5.0 innings, allowing one earned run and striking out two. Senior captain Alissa McCauley (Malone, N.Y./Franklin Academy) came in and pitched the final 2.0 innings, allowing one run and struck out one.

Potsdam had six players with multiple hits. Falsion and Condon both went 4-for-4, Fish went 3-for-4 with three RBI and Donaldson, Hyland and freshman catcher Hailey LaGiudice (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./Mt.Sinai) went 2-for-4. Hyland had two RBI and Donaldson had one.


The Bears kept the momentum going in game two. Falsion started with another triple to left. Fish then singled to right field and scored Falsion, to give Potsdam an early 1-0 lead.

The score remained the same until the top of the fifth where the Bears scored a few more. With two runners on, Falsion brought in junior Kiersten Brown (Glens Falls, N.Y./Glens Falls) after a single to left field. After laying down a bunt, Fish scored left fielder Vanessa Brandt (Saugerties, N.Y./Saugerties). Freshman designated hitter Abby Vaughn (Apalachin, N.Y./Owego Free Academy) brought in Falsion and gave Potsdam a 4-0 lead.    

In the bottom of the sixth, the Thunder turned it around and scored seven. Kelly Thorton scored one after a double. Later in the inning Melissa Meiners singled to center and scored another two. Three batter later, Hannah Clark tied the game with a single to left. Maddie Craver followed Clark and scored another. Janette Oh ended the scoring with a two-run double to left center.

The Bears were able to get runners on in the seventh but were not able to have any cross the plate, and Wheaton won 7-4.

McCauley pitched the first 5.0 innings, allowed three earned runs, five hits and struck out two. Fish (1-2) received the loss after pitching 1.0 inning, allowing three unearned runs on four hits.

Thorton got the win after pitching a complete game, giving up four runs on 11 hits and struck out three.

Falsion, Fish and Donaldson went 2-for-4 in the game. Falsion scored twice with an RBI and Fish had two RBI. Hyland went 2-for-2 and Vaughn ended the game going 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Potsdam is back in action on Wednesday when they face Bridgewater State University at 4 p.m. and Delaware Valley at 6 p.m.