POTSDAM, N.Y.-- The SUNY Potsdam softball team (5-15) lost the twin bill against Clarkson University (16-10) on Thursday afternoon. The Golden Knights took game one 12-4 in five innings and took game two 8-2. Senior captain Brooke Falsion (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport) went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored on the day. Sophomore catcher Shelby Van Epps (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored in game one.   

The Bears were the first to score. Van Epps started a two-out rally with a double to center. Junior first baseman Megan Fish (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North) followed up with another double, scoring Van Epps. Sophomore shortstop Grace Folmsbee (Red Hook, N.Y./Red Hook) got Fish across home with a single to right, giving Potsdam a 2-0 lead after the top half of the first.   

The Golden Knights gained the lead after scoring three in the second. With runners on the corners, Kyrstin Messier singled and scored one. Rylee LeBourvea then singled to center and scored two.  

Clarkson took advantage of a Potsdam error and put up two more runs in the bottom third, giving them a 5-2 lead. 

The Bears brought the game within one in the top of the fifth. Runners were on second and third when Van Epps hit a sacrifice fly to score one. Potsdam cut the deficit to one when Brooke Falsion stole third, then caused the catcher to make an error and scored. 

The Golden Knights took control in the bottom half of the fifth. Following a few hits and taking advantage of a couple errors, they put up seven runs and put the mercy rule into effect. Clarkson took game one 12-4 after five innings. 

Van Epps went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Fish went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. 

Senior captain Alissa McCauley (Malone, N.Y./Franklin Academy) (2-5) received the loss after pitching four innings, allowing six earned runs and struck out two. Freshman Sierra Ashley (Lisbon, N.Y./Lisbon) pitched in the fifth inning and allowed two runs. 


Game two was a pitching duel as the game stayed scoreless heading into the fifth. 

Sophomore third baseman Sydney Miller (Hoosick Falls, N.Y./Hoosick Falls) started the fifth off with a single. Sophomore Jen Darlak (Lockport, N.Y./Wilson) pinch ran for Miller, and got to third following a couple of bunts. Falsion hit Darlak in with a double to left center. Junior centerfielder Lucy Condon (Kitchener, Ontario/St. David Catholic) brought in the second run for the Bears, giving them a 2-0 lead. 

The Golden Knights cut the lead in half in the bottom fifth, after a single to left field by Danielle Whitham.

Clarkson had a seven-run sixth inning to put the game out of reach. The Golden Knights scored with a few singles and a pair of two-run home runs. 

Potsdam could not get anything going in the last inning and lost game two, 8-2.

Falsion went 2-for-3 with an RBI and freshman left fielder Vanessa Brandt went 1-for-2 with a run scored. 

Sophomore Kiera Nesbitt (Sound Beach, N.Y./Miller Place) (1-3) received the loss after pitching 5.2 innings and allowing seven earned runs. McCauley came in to pitch for the final out. 

The Bears are back in action Saturday as they host a doubleheader against Buffalo State starting at 1 p.m.