POTSDAM, N.Y.—On a perfect day spring day, the SUNY Potsdam softball team (1-1) rallied from a game one 8-0 defeat to down Clarkson University (3-3) 5-1 in game two. The victory was the first of head coach Brianna Ferchen's career and the first for sophomore pitcher Makiah Ramsdell (Winthrop, N.Y./St. Lawrence Central).
 
In game two, Clarkson struck in the first inning on a sacrifice fly from Golden Knights catcher Maddie Brink. Ramsdell allowed just five hits and kept Clarkson off the board the rest of the way.
 
In the top of the fourth, Bears junior shortstop Vanessa Brandt (Saugerties, N.Y./Saugerties singled to center to score freshman first baseman Kat Tompkins (Pleasant Valley, N.Y./Arlington) from third and tie the game.
 
Potsdam took control offensively in the top of the sixth. Senior designated player Sydney Miller (Hoosick Falls, N.Y./Hoosick Falls) reached on an error to start things off. Brandt moved her to second and reached on a fielder's choice. Junior third baseman Abby Vaughn (Apalachin, N.Y./Owego Free Academy) then walked. Senior left fielder Megan Fish (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North) reached on another fielder's choice, but Miller was out at home on the play. Senior second baseman Morgan Brown (Duvall, Wash./Cedarcrest) then knocked in Brandt with a single to left. With two outs, sophomore centerfielder Anna Grottola (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connetquot) singled to plate Brown. Clarkson then made two errors on the play which allowed Fish and Vaughn to score and make it 5-1.
 
Ramsdell allowed a Clarkson single in the sixth and seventh, but nothing else as she slammed the door on the win.
 
Ramsdell (1-0) scattered seven hits and struck out two. Emily McBath allowed five hits in five innings, struck out four and allowed one unearned run. Riley Page (1-2) allowed four runs, one earned, and struck out two in the last two innings.
 
Brandt finished the contest 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Grottola was also 2-for-4 with an RBI. Seven different Golden Knights had a hit in the contest.
 
 
It was all Clarkson in the opener. The Golden Knights scored one run in the first, three in the second, one in the third and three in the fourth. Olivia Zoeller (2-1) struck out five and was an out away from a no-hitter, when Vaughn broke it up with a soft liner to right field. Fish (0-1) was touched up for eight runs, seven earned, on 11 hits in four innings. Clarkson shortstop Bridget Twait was 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI. Third baseman Kayla Robert and Brink were each 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Brink also homered to left in the third inning.
 
The game two win snaps a nine-game losing streak to the Golden Knights and was Potsdam's first over Clarkson since a 10-4 victory on April 8, 2015.
 
The Bears are back in action in one week, April 1, when they travel to Plattsburgh State for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. to open SUNYAC play.