Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

FREDONIA, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz softball team (11-4, 4-0 SUNYAC) extended its winning streak to seven games on Saturday afternoon, sweeping SUNY Fredonia (4-10, 1-3 SUNYAC) in a pair of State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) contests. The Hawks won game one, 5-2, before edging the Blue Devils by a 6-5 count in game two.

In game one, New Paltz dug itself out of a 2-0 hole and wound up scoring five unanswered runs across the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

After a scoreless one-and-a-half innings, Fredonia got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second. With runners on second and third with one out, Corinne Christie singled to plate Megan Medina, and during the Blue Devils' next at-bat, Tina Schwartzmeyer scored on a double-steal attempt.

New Paltz countered in the third, as an RBI single by senior second baseman Melissa Liotta (Brentwood, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) scored senior designated player Andrea Feeney (Ulster Park, N.Y./Kingston). The Hawks tied the game in the fourth when sophomore catcher Shayna Burgess (Smithtown, N.Y./Commack) drove in a run off a bases-loaded hit by pitch, and they took the lead off a two-run home run by junior first baseman Chelsea Kull (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor) in the fifth. Burgess crossed the plate in the sixth off a ground out to spell out the final score.

Feeney was the lone Hawk to post a multi-hit performance in game one, as she batted 2-for-3 with a run scored. For Fredonia, Medina sparked the attack by going 2-for-3 with one run scored.

Senior pitcher Amber Carozza (Milton, N.Y./Marlboro) earned the win in the circle and yielded just two runs off eight hits and a walk while striking out two. Danielle Shelp absorbed the loss for Fredonia, lasting 4 1/3 innings. She gave up four runs—three of which were earned—off five hits and a walk while striking out five.

Game two featured a wild back-and-forth battle and culminated with a thrilling seventh inning.

The Blue Devils gave the Hawks all they could handle in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases off a single, a hit by pitch and an error to lead off the inning. Alyssa Morgan scored two runs off a single in the team's next at-bat, and that made the score 6-4 in favor of New Paltz. Freshman pitcher Katie Rutcofsky (Plainview, N.Y./Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy), who earned the start in the circle, was then replaced in favor of sophomore pitcher Erika Traina (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore).

Morgan stole second before Cherise Gunnell walked to load the bases once again. Medina pulled the Blue Devils within one with an RBI single, but New Paltz recorded two straight outs to prevent Fredonia from tying the game. The Blue Devils brought in Madeline Medina to pinch hit, and with the bases loaded, Traina struck out Ma. Medina swinging to register the final out of the game.

Fredonia scored in the first and second innings, while New Paltz pushed across runs in the third and fourth frames to tie the score at 2-all.

The Hawks received a sacrifice fly from sophomore third baseman Meg Brewer (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) in the sixth before Kull crossed the plate later on in the inning on a wild pitch.

With a 4-2 lead in tow, New Paltz added to it in the seventh. Sophomore right fielder Marissa Monaco (Bohemia, N.Y./Connetquot) doubled down the right-field line to plate Burgess, and in the Hawks' next at-bat, Kull plated Grande with a single to center field.

Offensively, Burgess (3-for-4, one run scored), Monaco (3-for-4, two RBI, one run scored) and Kull (3-for-4, one RBI, one run scored) ignited the Hawk attack in the nightcap. Morgan paced the Blue Devil bats with a 3-for-4 outing that included two RBI.

Rutcofsky earned the win in the circle, yielding five runs—four of which were earned—off seven hits, a walk and a hit by pitch while striking out three in six innings of work. Traina was credited with the save, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one in one inning of duty.

Raela Wiley-Delp threw five innings and did not earn a decision, giving up two runs on five hits. Alyssa Brognano suffered the loss after permitting four runs—two of which were earned—off six hits in two innings of action.

New Paltz looks to extend its win streak on Wednesday, April 3, as it faces non-conference Manhattanville College in a 3 p.m. doubleheader.