FORT MYERS, FLA.—The SUNY Potsdam softball team (1-1) fell to Rockford University (1-1) in the season opener before rebounding for a 6-2 win over Anna Maria College (1-3) on a strong all-around performance in Fort Myers, Fla.
It was all Regents in the opener. Rockford grabbed the lead on a wild pitch in the top of the first. They then added a run in the third and fourth. Rockford pulled away in the fifth and the sixth innings with three and five more runs, respectively.
Junior second baseman
Kaylee Dobransky (New Britain, Conn./CREC Academy of Science and Innovation) and junior centerfielder
Danielle Moscarello (Arlington, Vt./Mount Anthony Union) each had a hit for the Bears.
Graduate student
Sierra Ashley (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Lisbon) (0-1) allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits and four walks in four innings pitched. Senior
Anna Brown (Ellenburg Depot, N.Y./Northern Adirondack) allowed eight runs, three earned, on three hits and seven walks in the last two innings.
Shortstop Jocelyn Callahan was 1-for-2 with three runs scored and two walks for the Regents. Second baseman Chayton Krueger was 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Left fielder Bella Lima went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. First baseman Emily Down was 1-for-2 with two runs and two RBI. Centerfielder Kariana Williams was 2-for-4 with three runs.
Mariah Martinez (1-0) allowed two hits in five innings, while striking out five to pick up the win for Rockford. Williams struck out two in one inning of relief.
Against the Amcats, the Bears struck first in the top of the second. Senior catcher
Kelsey Bennett (Hammond, N.Y./Hammond) reached on an infield single and then came all the way around to score on a error. Anna Maria left fielder Paige Stewart tied the game in the bottom of the inning on a single to center that plated an unearned run.
Potsdam grabbed the lead for good with two runs in the top of the third. Graduate student first baseman
Anna Grottola (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connetquot) got aboard with a one-out walk. She was later driven in on a ground out RBI from Bennett to make it 2-1. Junior third baseman
Kaylee LaForest (Cohoes, N.Y./Cohoes) scored on a passed ball after reaching on an error. The Bears led 3-1 after two and a half.
Potsdam extended its lead to 5-1 in the top of the fourth. Graduate student
Emily Beck (Lowville, N.Y./Beaver River) drove in junior second baseman
Kiara Lovejoy (Lansing, N.Y./Lansing) with a double. Grottola knocked home Beck on a ground out.
Anna Maria got its final run in the bottom of the fourth. Shortstop Eden Forget drove in an unearned run with a single to left. Bears junior pitcher
Lexie Cottrill (Skaneateles, N.Y./Skaneateles) worked out a bases loaded jam with two outs and preserved the 5-2 lead.
The Bears tacked on a final run in the top of the seventh. Bennett reached on an error and moved to second. A ground out pushed her to third before a sacrifice fly of the bat of Cottrill brought her in. Cottrill then worked around a one-out double to slam the door in a scoreless bottom of the seventh.
Bennett was 1-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Grottola went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Beck was 1-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Cottrill was 1-for-2 with an RBI. Dobransky was 2-for-4.
Cottrill (1-0) went the distance for Potsdam. She allowed just two unearned runs on a eight hits, while striking out three and walking three. The contest marked the fourth win of her career and 10th complete game.
Centerfielder Shay Savoie was 3-for-4 for the Amcats and Forget finished 1-for-4 with an RBI.
Sabrina Liston (0-2) allowed five runs, two earned, on seven hits and two walks over the first four innings. Lauryn Meade allowed one unearned run on one hit in the last three innings, while picking up two strikeouts.
The Bears are back in action tomorrow at 11 a.m. They'll have a rematch with Rockford, followed by a 1 p.m. matchup with Bethany College.
