NAPLES, FLA.—The SUNY Potsdam softball team (1-5) fell to Grove City College (3-4) 8-7 in extra innings and Rockford University (4-4) 9-3 on Thursday on the Bears' third day competing in the Gene Cusic Classic.
 
In Game One, the Bears faced up against Grove City in a rematch from Tuesday leading to another day with free softball, this time Grove City coming from behind and sealing the deal, scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth.
 
Senior first baseman Anna Grottola (Ronkonkoma, N.Y/Connetquot) roped a triple in the top of the third to drive in sophomore shortstop Kaylee Dobransky (New Britain Conn./CREC Academy of Science and Innovation) and senior outfielder Emily Beck (Lowville, N.Y./Beaver River). In the fourth frame, the Bears added two more, scoring sophomore outfielder Danielle Moscarello (Arlington, Vt./Mount Anthony Union) and Beck. Potsdam tallied two more runs in the fifth with two RBI singles from Moscarello and sophomore pitcher Lexie Cottrill (Skaneateles, N.Y./Skaneateles).  
 
Cottrill left the game with one out in the fifth, holding the Wolverines to six hits and three runs.
 
Grove City's Lexi Buck scored on a wild pitch in the sixth to bring them within two. The Wolverines evened the game in the seventh on a sacrifice fly from Buck and an error.
 
The Bears scored in the eighth off a triple from Beck, driving in junior outfielder Hope Sandor (North Salem, N.Y./North Salem). Grove City's cleanup and five-hole hitters Lauren Harris and Rachel Zona recorded back-to-back singles to score two baserunners to walk off the Bears.
 
In the afternoon game, the Bears faced the Rockford Regents. Potsdam was on the board in the first inning with a single from junior catcher Alexa Abbatantuono (Corinth, N.Y./Corinth). Rockford responded on their first ups scoring four runs on a few fielding mishaps. Rockford tallied another in the second after Bella Lima sneaked one through the left side.
 
Potsdam offense picked back up in the fifth inning, Dobransky and Abbatantuono both record RBI singles to cut Rockford's lead to 6-3.
 
The Regents made three more trips around the bases in their final two ups, extending their lead to six, giving Mariah Martinez some cushion to close out the last two innings on the mound.
 
Junior pitcher Anna Brown (Ellenburg Depot, N.Y/ Northern Adirondack) took the loss, throwing six innings with three strikeouts and three earned runs.
 
The Bears offense posted 20 hits, totaling a team .305 batting average in the two contests.
 
Potsdam concludes their time in southern Florida tomorrow morning with two more games against Haverford at 9 a.m. and Pitt-Bradford at 11 a.m.