NAPLES, FLA.—The SUNY Potsdam softball team (1-1) split its first two games of the season in Florida. The Bears rallied to defeat Pitt-Bradford (2-2) 5-3 and before falling to La Roche University (2-4) 11-7.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (PITT-BRADFORD)

• The Panthers struck in the bottom of the first on a ground out.
• The Bears tied the contest in the top of the third as an RBI single from senior shortstop Alexys Rosick (Hudson Falls, N.Y./Hudson Falls) brought in freshman second baseman Chloe Kuttruff (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus).
• Pitt-Bradford regained the lead with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth.
• Potsdam answered with two runs in the top of sixth and seventh to take a 5-2 lead.
• Sophomore designated player Sam Horne (Buffalo, N.Y./Kenmore West) singled up the middle in the top of the sixth, scoring freshman center fielder Payton St. Clair (Brewerton, N.Y./Paul V. Moore) and Kuttruff to make it 3-2 Bears.
• In the top of the seventh, freshman right fielder Courtney LaBaff (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) scored on an error and sophomore pinch runner Mia Cooper (Scotia, N.Y./Scotia-Glenville) came in on a ground out to make it 5-2.
• The Panthers got one back in the bottom of the seventh and threatened for more before junior pitcher Emily Birmingham (Pulaski, N.Y./Pulaski) slammed the door.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS (PITT-BRADFORD)

• Birmingham (1-0) was strong in her Potsdam debut. She allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out six, while going the distance.
• Christa Koagel held the Bears to just a run on three hits and struck out four in the first five innings. Alyssa Tollini (0-1) was tagged for the loss after allowing two runs on two hits and a walk in the sixth. Kaylee Schwartz allowed two unearned runs on a walk in the seventh.
• Rosick led the Bears, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Horne was 1-for-3 with two RBI and Kutruff scored two runs.
• Panthers center fielder Miranda Groll was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run. Schwartz was 1-for-1 with an RBI.

 
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS (LA ROCHE)

• The Redhawks scored twice in the top of first and once more in the third to take a 3-0 lead.
• The Bears jumped back in front with a 4-run bottom of the third. St. Clair and Horne each had RBI singles. Potsdam got its other two runs on a ground out and a wild pitch.
• La Roche broke the game open in the top of the fourth with eight runs on eight hits. Third baseman Gabby Sbraccia had a two-run single and second baseman Ashlee Bair added a two-run double.
• The Bears scored three times in the bottom of the sixth. Birmingham had an RBI single. Rosick chipped in an RBI on a ground out and Kuttruff capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED (LA ROCHE)

• Horne (0-1) allowed nine runs on 13 hits in 3.2 innings. Kutruff gave up two runs on two hits and two walks in 0.1 innings. Birmingham capped her day in the circle with three scoreless innings to finish the contest.
• Taylor Young (1-1) allowed seven runs on 12 hits in five innings to pick up the win. Maura Wade threw two perfect innings to close out the game.
• Rosick was 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Birmingham was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Horne and Kutruff each went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. St. Clair was 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Sophomore catcher Hannah Fagan (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus) was 2-for-3 with a run and junior left fielder Sophia Pleat (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) went 2-for-3.
• Sbraccia went 3-for-4 with three RBI for the Redhawks and left fielder Klover Haberthier was 3-for-5 with three runs and an RBI.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Bears face Rockford University and RIT tomorrow morning at 9 and 11 a.m. in Naples.