S.L.U. Sweeps; Clarkson Splits; Bears, Roos, Cards Drop Pairs

 The Bears’ Emily Beck drives a single,  She eventually comes around to score, but Clarkson still leads 6-1.  Clarkson wins game one, 13-2.  Kelsey Bennett drives in Olivia Dean for a run. SUNY Potsdam wins game two 8-6.  (Kyton Deon photo)

04/02/2024: The SUNY Potsdam softball team (6-6) bounced back from a 13-2 game one loss to Clarkson University (7-9) to defeat the Golden Knights 8-6 in the finale. Graduate student Anna Grottola (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connetquot) was 4-7 with two runs scored and two RBI in both games. Her third hit of the day made her the 10th player in program history to reach 100 for her career.   Clarkson grabbed the lead for good with three runs in the top of the first in the opener. Golden Knights junior pitcher Devin Fitzpatrick (Saugerties, N.Y./Saugerties) had the big blow with a two-run double. Clarkson added two more in the third on wild pitch and an RBI single from junior first baseman Bridget Kerwin (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton).  After freshman right fielder Isabel Haspil (San Antonio, Texas/Alamo Heights) knocked in Clarkson's sixth run in the top of the fifth, the Bears finally answered on an RBI triple from junior shortstop Kiara Lovejoy (Lansing, N.Y./Lansing) that plated graduate student left fielder Emily Beck (Lowville, N.Y./Beaver River).   The Golden Knights added three more in the top of the sixth with RBI singles from Fitzpatrick and Hapsil and an error to take a commanding 9-1 lead. Senior catcher Kelsey Bennett (Hammond, N.Y./Hammond) got one back for the Bears with a single up the middle that brought around freshman pinch runner Alivia Dean (Lake George, N.Y./Lake George) in the bottom of the fifth. Clarkson then pulled away for three more in the sixth and four in the seventh for the 13-2 final.   Senior Anna Brown (Ellenburg Depot, N.Y./Northern Adirondack) (1-2) started for the Bears, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks in just over two innings. Junior Lexie Cottrill (Skaneateles, N.Y./Skaneateles) went the last five, allowing eight runs, three earned, on nine hits and four walks.   Grottola, Bennett and Beck were each 1-for-3 and Lovejoy finished 2-for-3.   Fitzpatrick (6-3) went the distance for Clarkson. She allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits, while striking out six.   Hapsil was 3-for-5 with five RBI. Fitzpatrick went 3-for-4 with four runs and three RBI. Junior third baseman Elizabeth Greco (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) was 2-for-4 with two runs. Kerwin and junior catcher Zoey Kovach (White Plains, N.Y./White Plains) were each 2-for-5 with a combined three RBI and two runs.     Game two started in the opposite fashion, as the Bears scored three times in the bottom of the first and never trailed. Freshman right fielder Sophia Pleat (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) drove in junior second baseman Kaylee Dobransky (New Britain, Conn./CREC Academy of Science and Innovation) with line drive single off the glove of Golden Knights sophomore pitcher Lily Corrice (Oakdale, Conn./Montville) make it 1-0. Bennett then drove in Pleat on a ground out and Grottola charged home on an errant throw.   Beck extended the lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth on single to right that brought in senior designated player Hailey Bushaw (Philadelphia, N.Y./Indian River). Clarkson broke up the shutout in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly from senior second baseman Molly Pezzano (Schenectady, N.Y./Schenectady).   The Bears nearly put the game away in the bottom of the fifth with four runs. Grottola knocked in Dobransky and Pleat with the 101st hit of her career. Bennett and Bushaw followed with RBI singles that scored Grottola and Bennett and the Bears led 8-1.   Clarkson finally answered with four in the top of the sixth to get within 8-5. Fitzpatrick led off with a homer to dead center. Junior centerfielder Emma Sabourin (Grand Isle, Vt./Essex) drove in two more with a single to right. Pezzano capped the rally with an RBI single to center.   Bears freshman pitcher Hannah Agans (Brasher Falls, N.Y./St. Lawrence Central) relieved graduate student Sierra Ashley (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Lisbon) in the top of the seventh for her first collegiate pitching appearance. After allowing a leadoff single to Fitzpatrick, she fanned the next two hitters. Junior right fielder Elissa Uveino (Perry, N.Y./Perry) then closed the gap to 8-6 with an RBI single to center. Agans followed by getting a pop up for the final out, earning her first save.   Ashley (3-1) had another strong outing, working through trouble in several innings. She allowed five runs on 11 hits through six innings.   Grottola was 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Dobransky was 2-for-3 with two runs and Pleat was 1-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Bennett went 1-for-3 with two RBI and an run. Beck was also 1-for-3 with an RBI and Bushaw went 1-for-2 with a run, an RBI and a walk.   Corrice (1-6) allowed eight runs, six earned, on nine hits over the first 4.1 innings. Fitzpatrick allowed two hits over the last 1.2 innings.   Senior left fielder Katy Aldous (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna) was 2-for-4 with a run for the Golden Knights. Pezzano was 2-for-3 with two runs. Fitzpatrick closed out her big day by going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run on a home run. Uveino finished 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Sabourin was 1-for-3 with a run and two RBI.

First game, 5th inning: The Golden Knights’ get a hit to center. Both Devin Fitzpatrick and Karyssa Parker score. 5-0 Clarkson.  Clarkson wins game one, 13-2.  Kelsey Bennett drives in Olivia Dean for a run. SUNY Potsdam wins game two 8-6.  (Kyton Deon photo)

04/02/2024: A late rally from the Clarkson University Softball team came up short in game two of its doubleheader, keeping the Golden Knights from gaining the sweep over SUNY Potsdam, as the Green and Gold won game one 13-2 and fell in the nightcap 8-6 at Maxcy Softball Field on the campus of SUNY Potsdam. The Golden Knights saw their record go to 7-9 on the season, while the Bears maintained their .500 mark at 6-6. Clarkson is scheduled for a doubleheader against St. Lawrence University on Saturday afternoon, but the upcoming weather forecast may alter the time and date of those games. In the first game, the Golden Knights put up crooked numbers in the first and third innings to build an early lead, but it was in the final two innings that the game broke open with seven runs. Clarkson opened the game with three in the top of the first as Devin Fitzpatrick doubled in Molly Pezzano and Katy Aldous, and Fitzpatrick came around on a single up the middle by Zoey Kovach. Clarkson tallied two more in the third when Elizabeth Greco scored on a wild pitch and Fitzpatrck came around on hit by Bridget Kerwin. In the fifth, Isabel Haspil drove in Karyssa Parker to make it 6-0, but Potsdam got a run back in the bottom half of the inning. Clarkson tacked on three more in the top of the sixth behind a Fitzpatrick RBI single, a fielder's choice, and then an RBI single from Haspil. Potsdam kept the game alive by getting one run in the bottom of the sixth, just enough to avoid the run-rule, but Clarkson would make the point moot in the seventh with four more runs. Kerwin singled in a run and Haspil cleared the bases on a three-run double to center. Fitzpatrick picked up the win, allowing just a single earned run on six hits over seven innings while striking out six with no walks. She also went 3-for-4 at the plate, drove in three and scored four times. Haspil finished 3-for-5 with five RBI while Greco, Kerwin, and Kovach each contributed two hits in the game. For all of the offense for the Knights in the first game, the bats went quiet in game two, as the team had five hits in its first five at bats for just one run. Potsdam took advantage, scoring three in the first, once in the fourth, and four times in the fifth. The Bears scored three in the first on three hits, but two came around on an RBI groundout with an error attached. In the fourth, an Emily Beck single plated a run to put the tally at 4-0. Clarkson scored one in the top of the fifth. Katy Aldous tripled to right-center and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Molly Pezzano. The Bears, though, nearly ended the game with the bottom of the fifth with a four-spot, coming up one run short. Anna Grottola plated two with a single up the middle, Kelsey Bennett drove in a run with a single to left, and an infield single for Hailey Bushaw drove in another run. Clarkson's bats picked things up in the sixth inning. Devin Fitzpatrick drilled her fourth home run of the season to center field to get things rolling, and the Knights tacked on four more in the frame. With two outs in the inning, Elissa Uveino singled to center and was followed by a single from Kaya Johnson. Emma Sabourin then singled in a pair with a hit to right to put the score at 8-4 and Katy Aldous pushed Sabourin into scoring position with another hit. Molly Pezzano made it five straight hits with a single to center, scoring Sabourin and trimming the deficit to three, 8-5. The Knights pulled closer in the top of the seventh when Elissa Uveino drove in pinch-runner Karyssa Parker with two outs, but a fly out ended the game as the Bears held off Clarkson's late comeback. Uveino finished the game 3-for-4 while Molly Pezzano was 2-for-3 with two RBI and Fitzpatrick went 2-for-4.

St. Lawrence University’s Madison Austin drives the ball into right field to earn a base hit and score the runner from third base to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Saints swept the SUNY Canton Kangaroos in the doubleheader winning 9-1 in Game 1 and 16-0 in Game 2. (Jenne photo) Game Gallery 

St. Lawrence University's Deanna Sullivan (13) drives the ball deep into right field to earn a double placing her in scoring position in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Saints scored three runs in the fourth inning to take a 5-1 lead. The Saints fended off the SUNY Potsdam comeback attempt in the seventh inning to capture the 5-4 victory. (Cody Jenne photo) Game Gallery soon

A St. Lawrence University base runner slides onto third base however she is tagged out by the Skidmore third baseman to end the third inning. The Saints picked up the 6-1 victory over the Mustangs in the first game of todays double header. (Sam Wangerin photo) Game Gallery

April 13: A pair of late-inning rallies helped Plattsburgh State to two one-run wins in a sweep of the St. Lawrence softball team in a nonconference doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon. The Cardinals won the first game 4-3 and the second 3-2 to improve to 13-9 overall, while the Saints drop to 8-11 after the sweep. Jordan Sheridan led the Saints with a pair of hits in game one, while first-year Mylea Mann had two RBI in game two. Both Emma Gailey and Allie Courtwright took losses on the mound, as Gailey allowed four runs on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts in the opener, and Courtwright gave up three runs on five hits with three strikeouts of her own in the second game. The Saints had 2-0 lead in game one after one-run innings in both the first and the third, as Kylee Knight scored the first run of the day when Plattsburgh dropped a routine pop fly into short right field off the bat of Kelsey Murphy. Junior Carly Dziekan made it 2-0 when she scored on a RBI single up the middle by Courtwright. Plattsburgh chipped away in the top of the fourth with an RBI single of its own and then added three runs in the top of the sixth thanks to two hits and two errors to take a 4-2 lead. St. Lawrence got one back in the bottom of the frame on a sacrifice fly by first-year Abrianna Schlickenmayer that plated Elle Gray, but couldn't find the equalizer as they stranded one in the bottom of the seventh to end the game. The Saints got opened up a 2-0 lead in game two as well, with a two RBI double to right center by Mann in the third that scored both Sheridan and Kelsey Murphy. Plattsburgh cut the home team's lead in half with a run in the top of the fifth off a muffed throw by the Saints first baseman, but the Saints were able to get two quick outs and strand a pair of Cardinals to prevent any further damage. But the visitor's led off the seventh with a triple to the base of the wall in right field and tied the game on a sac fly to center the next at bat. After a single and a fielder's choice, the Cardinals took the lead for good with an RBI single through the right side for the eventual 3-2 margin. St. Lawrence will travel to Clarkson for a Liberty League doubleheader on Thursday, before hosting RPI and Union for a pair of conference doubleheaders this Saturday and Sunday. 

April 10: St. Lawrence and Skidmore traded one-run victories in a Liberty League doubleheader on Sunday afternoon in Saratoga Springs, with the Saints scoring four runs in the final two innings of the second game to come from behind for an 8-7 win and secure the split. Skidmore won the opening game 2-1 with a walk-off run in the bottom of the seventh. With the split, St. Lawrence is now 8-9 overall and 1-1 in conference this season, while Skidmore is 9-13 and is also 1-1 in Liberty League play. In game one, Skidmore took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a solo home run to left center, but the Saints pulled even in the top of the second when first-year Elle Gray hit an RBI double to left center that plated sophomore Emma Reakes for the Saints lone run of the game. With two out and one runner on the in the bottom of the seventh inning for Skidmore, Saints pitcher Emma Gailey walked Karly Fishkin and then intentionally walked Dani DeGregory to load the bases. An error on a ball hit to the infield by the next batter, May-Lin McEvoy, allowed the second and winning run to score for the Thoroughbreds. The Saints outhit Skidmore in the first game seven to four, but stranded seven runners in the game. Elle Gray led the Scarlet and Brown with a 3-for-3 performance, while Kylee Knight also had a multi-hit day, going 2-for-3. On the mound, Gailey pitched six and two-thirds, allowing just four hits and one earned run, while striking out five. With the loss, the Simsbury, Conn. native is now 4-2 on the year. Gailey was also the pitcher of record in the Saints win in game two, picking up the win in a relief appearance as St. Lawrence used its full staff on Sunday afternoon. Allie Courtwright started and pitched one and two-thirds innings allowing five hits and three runs with two strikeouts before she was relieved by Hannah Sears who pitched two and a third with three hits, three runs and two strikeouts before. Gailey worked three innings to finish the game (4H, 1R, 2SO). The Saints jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the second inning on five hits and one error, with runs coming across on a two-RBI single up the middle by Gray and then an RBI sacrifice and single by Kylee Knight and Madison Yarborough, respectively. Skidmore responded with three runs on four hits in the bottom of the frame and took a 6-4 lead with three more runs in the bottom of the fifth. In the top of the sixth, Knight tied the game for the Saints with a two-out, two-RBI double that plated both Elle Gray and Jordan Sheridan before she was thrown out trying to advance to third. Skidmore added another run in the bottom of the sixth to regain the lead at 7-6, but an RBI double by Courtwright and an RBI single by Carly Dziekan in the top of the seventh gave the Saints their eventual 8-7 edge and the win. Of the team's 10 hits in game two, Mann, Courtwright and Gray each had two apiece, while Knight led the Saints with three RBI in the contest.

SUNY Poly's Kimberly Birmingham blasts the ball over the fence in center field for a home run and to bring home a runner on second base for an RBI in the fifth inning.  The Wildcats earned the shutout victory 14-0.  Pitcher Trinity Critelli twirled a no-hitter.  (Cody Jenne photo)

SUNY Canton's Sophia Gunderson rips the ball to the wall in centerfield for a double and drives in two runs to extend the Kangaroos lead to 6-1 in the third inning. The Roos' earned their first victory of the season, beating the Express 9-6.  Canton won the nightcap 17-4.  (Cody Jenne photo)    

The Cardinals team celebrates with Haileigh Agens (24) (Brasher Falls N.Y) at home plate after she drilled a two run homer over the fence in center field lifting SUNY Plattsburgh to 6-0 in the fifth inning. The Cardinals strung together a four run second inning lifting them to a 8-0 victory in the first game of a double header. (Cody Jenne photo) Game Gallery

SUNY Plattsburgh’s Haleigh Agens (24) from Brasher Falls, NY drives the ball into centerfield for a single and move a runner in scoring position on second base. The Golden Knights capitalized on two runs in the fifth inning to capture the 2-0 victory in the first game of the doubleheader with the Cardinals. (Cody Jenne photo) Game Gallery  

April 13: It was a North Country tangle on Wednesday afternoon when the Plattsburgh State softball team squared off with the St. Lawrence Saints in non-conference action. The Cardinals pulled off two late game turn-arounds to down the Saints 4-3 and 3-2 in both contests.   Game 1: Plattsburgh 4, St. Lawrence 3   A sixth inning surge propelled the Cardinals to victory in the first matchup with the Saints. Trailing 2-1, Plattsburgh State pushed across three runs in the top of the frame to take a 4-2 lead.   Both Dominique Zummo and Amy Glashoff reached on errors for Plattsburgh. Playing as the designated hitter, Hope VanBrocklin doubled to left field to bring in a run.   Immediately following VanBrocklin, freshman Anna Fisher singled up the middle, scoring Glashoff and VanBrocklin for the Cardinals.   The Saints tried to counter in the bottom of the frame, when Abrianna Schlickenmayer flied out to center field, scoring Elle Gray. However that was the only run the Saints would score for the rest of the game.   Cardinal senior Morgan Anderson went five and one third innings, striking out three and allowing one earned runs.   Offensively Fisher led the Cardinals from the batter's box, going 2-3 with two RBI's.   Game 2: Plattsburgh 3, St. Lawrence 2   Facing a 2-1 deficit in the top of the seventh inning, Plattsburgh State Head Coach Stephanie Conroy made the decision to insert Fisher, coming off a solid game one performance, as a pinch hitter to lead off for the Cardinals.   Well that decision proved to be huge as Fisher smacked a triple to right field to get the Cardinals rallying. Nicole Cast then flied out to center field, scoring Fisher and knotting the game at 2-2.   Plattsburgh wasn't quiet done yet. After Kelsey Gage reached on a fielder's choice, the Pine Bush N.Y. native stole second, giving teammate Kaitlyn Preiss a chance to give the Cardinals the lead.   Preiss did just that when she singled through the right side off of Saints pitcher Allie Courtwright, which scored Gage from second base.   The Cardinals had to turn around and play defense in the bottom of the seventh behind sophomore pitcher Katie Pitkin, who went all seven innings.   Pitkin was dominant in her matchup with St. Lawrence, only allowing three hits, giving up one earned run and striking out six batters.   With the two wins the Cardinals sit four games above .500 at 13-9, while the Saints fall to 8-11 overall.   Plattsburgh will be back in action on Friday as it hosts the Brockport Golden Eagles at Cardinal Park at 3 p.m.

April 10: It's not often there is a Sunday showcase for the Plattsburgh State softball team, but that was case in the matchup with the Oneonta Red Dragons as the Cardinals swept the doubleheader games 6-3 and 12-4 (6 inn.) on a chilly Sunday afternoon.   Game 1: Plattsburgh 6, Oneonta 3   Oneonta struck early in game one of the doubleheader. Getting two runs through on Cardinals pitcher Morgan Anderson.   However it was the Cardinals who would strike next in the third inning on a two out rally. With a man on, Jennifer Groat doubled to bring in Anna Fisher. Following Groat, Amanda Tantillo then tripled down the right field line to tie the game at two.   It was Plattsburgh again in the fourth inning showing its offense prowess, Jackie Decker and Kaitlyn Preiss each singled to left field to bring in a run, while Groat recorded a sac fly for the third run of the inning.   It was Groat again in the sixth with a base knock that brought in Fisher to round out the Cardinal scoring. The Ballston Spa native went 2-3 with three RBI's in game one.   Meanwhile, having given up two early runs, Anderson found a groove on the mound, keeping the Red Dragons off the board until a one run seventh. The only Cardinal senior went all seven innings and struck out three batters in earning the win.   Game 2: Plattsburgh 12, Oneonta 4 (6 inn.)   Plattsburgh was warmed up for round two with Oneonta. Offensively the Cardinals came out of the gates swinging, scoring five runs in the first two innings compared the Oneonta's one.   A quiet third and then three runs in the fourth and four runs in the sixth would cause an eight run rule to take effect and end the game in the bottom of the sixth innings.   Cardinal freshman Amy Glashoff was on third when Red Dragon pitcher Amanda Graziano let one loose and allowed Glashoff to score to end the game.   Cardinal sophomore Katie Pitkin went five innings on the mound, fanning three batters and walking two. Freshman Samantha Railey came in for relief in the sixth.   Offensively, Groat was 4-4 in game two with two RBI's, Tantillo went 2-2 from the plate with two RBI's and Decker 3-3 with four runs batted in.   With the win the Cardinals now sit at 11-9 overall, and move to 2-1 in SUNYAC play. Oneonta falls to 8-10, while dropping its first set of conference games now has them at 0-2 in the SUNYAC.