NAPLES, FLA.—The SUNY Potsdam softball team (2-4) fell short against Bethany College (6-0) before rebounding to defeat Clark University (1-3) on Monday. The Bison held off the Bears 5-4, but Potsdam shut out the Cougars 7-0 in the finale.
 
Bethany built a 3-0 lead over the first three innings of the contest. An error and a ground out made it 2-0 in the top of the second. An RBI single from third baseman Katelyn Ziems added the third run an inning later.
 
The Bears got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Junior third baseman Kaylee LaForest (Cohoes, N.Y./Cohoes) drove in freshman right fielder Sophia Pleat (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) with a single to center.
 
The Bison extended their lead to 5-1 with two more in the top of the fifth. Ziems and left fielder Audrey Tobesman each had RBI singles.
 
Potsdam got one back in the bottom of the sixth. Junior second baseman Kaylee Dobransky (New Britain, Conn./CREC Academy of Science and Innovation) came around to score after another LaForest single.
 
The Bears did more damage in the seventh. Junior centerfielder Danielle Moscarello (Arlington, Vt./Mount Anthony Union) led off with an infield single. Junior shortstop Kiara Lovejoy (Lansing, N.Y./Lansing) did the same with one out and an error moved Moscarello to third. Moscarello then scored on a throwing error by the catcher trying to stop Lovejoy from stealing. Graduate student left fielder Emily Beck (Lowville, N.Y./Lowville) grounded out next, but picked up the RBI as Lovejoy came in to score the final run.
 
Junior Lexie Cottrill (Skaneateles, N.Y./Skaneateles) (1-2) allowed five runs, four earned, on 10 hits in seven innings. She struck out a career-high five. Dobransky and Moscarello were each 2-for-3 with a run scored. LaForest was 2-for-3 with an RBI and Lovejoy was 1-for-3 with a run. Pleat finished 1-for-4 with a run.
 
Josie Wise (2-0) went the distance for the Bison. She allowed four runs, two earned, on eight hits and seven strikeouts. Ziems was 3-for-4 with two RBI. Catcher Morgan Huey was 2-for-4 with two runs. Designated player Haley Eyler was 2-for-3. Centerfielder Destiny Goodnight went 2-for-4 and Tobesman was 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
 
 
It was all Bears in the finale. Pleat scored on an error in the top of the first to make it 1-0. Potsdam got two more in the top of the second. Pleat knocked in both junior catcher Tatumn Pascal (Skaneateles, N.Y./Skaneateles) and Lovejoy to make it 3-0
 
The Bears broke it open with four runs in the top of the third. Senior left fielder Hailey Bushaw (Philadelphia, N.Y./Indian River) drove in both Moscarello and freshman pinch runner Karissa Donnelly (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Morristown) with a single to left. An error then brought in Lovejoy and Dobransky to close the scoring at 7-0.
 
Senior Anna Brown (Ellenburg Depot, N.Y./Northern Adirondack) (1-1) had the finest outing of her career. A two-hit shutout was the first of her career and the 14th complete game. She also struck out six.
 
Pleat was 1-for-4 with a run and three RBI. Bushaw was 1-for-2 with two RBI. Dobransky went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
 
Hannah Wagstaff (0-1) allowed five runs, two earned, on four hits and two walks in 2.1 innings for Clark. Cadence Schrader allowed two unearned runs on one hit and three walks in the last 4.2 innings. Third baseman Rebecca Mauro and pinch hitter Jennifer Albano had the two hits for the Cougars.
 
The Bears are now off until a doubleheader at Morrisville State on March 25.