KISSIMMEE, FLA.-- On the final day of the Florida trip, the SUNY Potsdam softball team (5-7) went nine innings before beating Loras College (2-5) 4-3 and finished Worcester St. (0-9) 8-0 in five innings. Junior right fielder Megan Fish (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North) went 4-for-7 with four RBI on the day. Senior captain Alissa McCauley (Malone, N.Y./Franklin Academy) pitched a complete game against the Duhawks and had a no-hitter entering the eighth inning.

The beginning of the game against Loras College was a pitching duel. The Bears tried to get momentum in the second and third, but ended up empty handed, leaving five base runners on.

In the top of the sixth Fish hit a single up the middle for the game's first base hit, however she was unable to score.

Since neither team could get on the scoreboard they went into extras. In the top of the eighth, Potsdam got into a scoring opportunity with junior captain Lucy Condon (Kitchener, Ontario/St. David Catholic) and senior captain Brooke Falsion (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport) on second and third with one out. Both runners crossed home plate after Fish singled through the left side.

Hadalyn Anderson started the bottom of the eighth with a double to left field, scoring the placed runner, Madison Franks, from second. Anderson's hit cut the deficit to one, and was the first Loras hit of the game. The Duhawks could not score the game-winning run, and the teams went into the ninth.

Runners were on first and second when sophomore catcher Shelby Van Epps (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) hit a double to left center, scoring freshman first baseman Abby Vaughn (Apalachin, N.Y./Owego Free Academy). Condon tacked on another run with a bases loaded walk to make it 4-2.

Loras still had fight in them in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, Shannon Coyle singled through the left side to score Noely Baumann and make it a one run game. The Duhawks could not get the tying run and the Bears won 4-3.

McCauley (2-2) got the win after pitching 9.0 innings, allowing one earned run on two hits and struck out four.

Emily Reilly pitched 1.2 innings, allowed no hits and struck out two. Kyleigh Becker pitched 7.1 innings, allowed two earned runs on three hits and struck out nine for Loras.

Fish went 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Van Epps went 1-for-3 with a RBI.


Potsdam kicked game two off with two runs in the bottom half of the first. Runners were on second and third when Fish hit a single to right field, bringing only Falsion in. During freshman first baseman Claire Donaldson's (Lisbon, N.Y./Lisbon) at-bat, Fish became a distraction to the Lancers' fielders on first base and helped freshman left fielder Vanessa Brandt (Saugerties, N.Y./Saugerties) score from third.   

The Bears got two more runs in the bottom third. With the bases loaded, freshman designated hitter Hailey LaGiudice (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./Mt. Sinai) got hit by a pitch to bring in Brandt. Vaughn followed LaGiudice with a single through the right side and scored Condon.

Potsdam kept their foot on the gas and scored four more runners in the fourth. With the bases loaded, Fish singled through the left side and scored Falsion. Donaldson was up next and brought in Brandt. LaGiudice then singled up the middle and got Condon across home. Vaughn rounded out the scoring with a single to left that scored Fish.

Worcester did not have an answer for Potsdam, as the Bears won 8-0 in five innings.

Sophomore Kiera Nesbitt (Sound Beach, N.Y./Miller Place) (1-2) got the win after pitching 4.0 innings, allowing no runs on two hits and struck out five. Fish came in to pitch a hitless fifth inning.

Liv Larson pitched 2.1 innings, allowed four runs on six hits and struck out one for the Lancers. Molly Glynn pitched 1.2 innings and allowed four unearned runs on five hits.     

Brandt, Fish and Vaughn each went 2-for-3 in the game. Vaughn and Fish each had two RBI, while Brandt scored three times. Condon and LaGiudice went 1-for-1 in the game. Condon scored twice and LaGiudice had two RBI.

The Bears are now off until March 23 when they head to Williamsport, Pa. for a doubleheader against Penn College. Game one will start at 12 p.m.