POTSDAM, N.Y. – The SUNY Potsdam softball team (3-13, 1-3 SUNYAC) split its twin bill against Oswego State (4-14-1, 1-3 SUNYAC) on Saturday afternoon. The Bears fell to the Lakers 3-2 in game one before rebounding for a 4-3 walk-off victory in the second.
Oswego struck first with a run in the top of the fourth. With bases loaded, freshman pinch hitter Kayleigh Farro (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal High School) grounded out to the pitcher and senior pitcher Fiona Higgins (Buffalo, N.Y./Frontier) scored.
The Lakers added two more runs on three hits in the top of the fifth. Sophomore catcher Mattison Phinney (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) hit an RBI double to left center to bring in senior first baseman Madison Hoeflich (Buffalo, N.Y./Iroquois High School). Higgins then plated Phinney with another double to right field.
The Bears registered three hits in the bottom of the sixth to bring around two runners. Senior first baseman
Anna Grottola (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connetquot) drove in senior outfielder
Emily Beck (Lowville, N.Y./Beaver River) with a single to shortstop. Junior designated player
Alexa Abbatantuono (Corinth, N.Y./Corinth) then brought home Grottola with a triple to left field. Despite having the momentum, the Lakers managed to hold off the Bears for the 3-2 conference victory.
Grottola was 2-3 with a run and an RBI for the Bears while Abbatantuono also went 2-3 with an RBI. Sophomore third baseman
Rebecca Holmes (Lawtons, N.Y./North Collins) went 1-3 and Beck was 1-3 with a run. Higgins went 2-3 for the Lakers with a run scored and an RBI. Phinney was 2-4 offensively registering a run and RBI as well.
Sophomore pitcher
Lexie Cottrill (Skaneateles, N.Y./Skaneateles) (0-4) allowed three earned runs on seven hits in 6.2 innings. Senior pitcher
Chesnie York (Corinth, N.Y./Corinth) pitched to one batter in the final inning. Higgins (3-6) earned the win for the Lakers, allowing two runs, both earned, on six hits and striking out 13 batters in seven innings pitched.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Bears struck early in the second. Holmes doubled down the left field line to bring in Grottola and quickly put Potsdam on the board.
Grottola scored Potsdam's second run of the game in the bottom of the fourth off a dropped fly ball from left field to put the Bears up 2-0.
The Lakers immediately scored two runs to tie the game in the top of the fifth inning. Freshman outfielder Ariana Guinassi (New London, Ct./Saint Bernard High School) plated both senior third baseman Tai Smith (White Plains, N.Y./Maria Regina) and junior outfielder Ella Mahoney (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus) off a two RBI double up the middle.
Senior pinch runner Abigail Edgar (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill) then scored a run for Oswego in the sixth on a double to left center field from senior outfielder Samantha Morgan (Cazenovia, N.Y./Cazenovia) to go ahead of the Bears 3-2.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Bears had two runners in scoring position as Grottola stepped up to the plate for Potsdam. She connected on a double that dropped perfectly into left field, sealing the walk-off conference victory for the Bears 4-3.
Offensively, Grottola went 2-4 with two runs and two RBIs for the Bears. Junior pitcher
Anna Brown (Ellenburg Depot, N.Y./Northern Adirondack) and Holmes both went 1-2 with Holmes earning a run. Mahoney went 1-2 with a run and Guinassi also went 1-2 with two RBIs for the Lakers. Morgan was 1-3 for the game and registered one RBI.
Brown pitched six innings for Potsdam, allowing three runs, all earned, on five hits and struck out two batters. York (3-4) pitched the final inning, allowing no hits and fanning one batter on her way to earning the win for the Bears. Sophomore pitcher Maria Lutz (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills East) (1-5) allowed four runs, none of them earned, on eight hits while going the distance for the Lakers.
The Bears are back in action on Monday when they host Clarkson University for a pair of contests with the first game starting at 3 p.m.
