St. Lawrence Has Third One-Run Game, But Eliminated in Playoffs

St. Lawrence University’s Chelsea Cavellier (22) races down the first base line to beat out a perfectly-executed bunt against the SUNY Potsdam Bears. The Bears split with the Saints, winning 1-0 and then falling 9-8 in extra innings. Potsdam junior pitcher Megan Johnson recorded her first collegiate no-hitter.
(Camron Waters photo)  Game Gallery

Saint Lawrence University’s Lauren Weisbarth (12) gets under a pop fly and makes the play for the put out.

April  14. Sophomore pitcher Kyle Plimpton threw a complete-game one-hitter to lead the St. Lawrence University softball team (11-11, 4-4) to a 1-0 victory over the University of Rochester in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader. The Yellowjackets (9-15, 5-1) suffered their first loss in Liberty League play at the hands of the Saints before rebounding to take game two by the score of 6-0. In the opener, the Saints left the bases loaded in the bottom of the third when Rochester pitcher Brittany Grage was able to escape trouble with the help of her defense, getting a force out at home before recording a strikeout to end the inning. The game would remain scoreless until the fifth when St. Lawrence took a 1-0 lead they would not relinquish. Aisha O'Connor hit a one-out single and was advanced to 2nd on a sacrifice bunt by Natasha Bell. An infield single by Chelsea Cavellier put runners on the corners with two outs. The lone run of the game would come on a wild pitch that allowed O'Connor to cross home plate. Plimpton, who pitched her second one-hitter of the weekend, was virtually unhittable in game one, allowing the only hit of the game in the 4th inning from Tayler Fravel. The excitement of the inning was shortlived for the Yellowjackets as Plimpton struck out the next three batters. She finished with 10 strikeouts in the game and improved to 5-6 on the season. In game two, Rochester scored two runs in the second inning behind two singles and a hit batter. The Saints would threaten in the third with runners on 2nd and 3rd and one out but solid defense got the Yellowjackets out of the inning without surrendering a run. The Saints would again put the pressure on in the 4th after Bell and Cavellier both recorded singles and steals. However the Rochester defense would hold tight again. Fravel threw Bell out at home on a grounder to 2nd and after an infield fly, Madeline Skellie scooped up a tough grounder and touched 3rd for the force to end the inning, again keeping the Saints off the scoreboard. Rochester extended their lead in the top of the 6th when Fravel advanced from 1st to 3rd on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a single from Muni. Two more hits from Carn and Hennessy in the inning extended the lead to five. The Yellowjackets capped their scoring in the 7th inning, when Nina Korn led off with a double to centerfield and then score on Grage's double to left center that followed. Sarah Wayson picked up the win on the mound for Rochester as she scattered six hits while striking out two. Elizabeth McGinley suffered the loss for the Saints as she allowed eight hits, four earned runs while walking one and striking out six. Plimpton pitched 1.2 innings of relief in game two, giving up an earned run off three hits and striking out one. Bell was 3-for-5 on the day to lead St. Lawrence offensively, while O'Connor was 3-for-6 with a double. Cavellier and Weisbarth added two hits apiece. Rochester was led by Fravel who was 3-for-7, while Korn and Muni added two hits apiece.

April 13: The St. Lawrence University softball team earned a split against Liberty League opponent RIT on Saturday at Saints Softball Field, rebounding from a 1-0 loss in game one to fend off a late Tiger rally in the nightcap, winning 4-3. The Saints, led offensively by Leslie Stratton's impressive 6-for-8 performance on the day, move to 10-10 on the season with a 3-3 mark in the league. The Tigers, paced by Brittney LaVoie's two hits, move to 6-14 and 1-3 in the league. In game one, St. Lawrence had base runners in all but one inning but couldn't push a run across. Meanwhile, RIT took advantage of several Saint miscues in the fourth inning to score the game's lone run. Kyle Plimpton suffered the loss on the mound for the home team despite giving up just one hit while walking four and striking out seven. Plimpton had a no-hitter going until LaVoie's two-out blooper on the left field line in the sixth inning. Sarah Collmus earned the shutout win on the mound for RIT as she gave up eight hits while walking two and striking out three. In game two, St. Lawrence took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on two hits. Caroline Kieltyka led the inning off with a walk, and Cailyn Welsh followed with a bunt single. After both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, Natasha Bell singled to left field to bring home Kieltyka. Bell stole second base on the next play, allowing Welsh to score on the throw. RIT got on the board in the fourth inning when Amanda Cook led off with a single through the right side, and would eventually come around to score on a single to right field from Anna Lorette. Then in the fifth, Brittany Griffin tied the game at 2-2 when she smacked a homerun over the left field fence, her second of the season. St. Lawrence would take a 4-2 lead in the sixth inning. Aisha O'Connor and Stratton had back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second. After RIT made the second out of the inning, Chelsea Cavellier ripped a two-out double to left center that allowed O'Connor and Stratton to score, giving the Saints a 4-2 advantage. RIT looked to rally in seventh inning as LaVoie and Alissa Dixon had back-to-back singles with two outs. A Saint fielding error allowed LaVoie to cross, bringing the Tigers within one at 4-3, but the home team made the final out to cut the rally short. Elizabeth McGinley earned the win on the mound for the Saints as she gave up six hits, two earned runs while walking one and striking out six. Dixon took the loss for RIT as she allowed seven hits and four earned runs while walking six and striking out four.  

  St. Lawrence University pitcher Kyle Plimpton (2) fires to the plate against SUNY Potsdam after getting the nod start Game Two of the double-header.  (Eric Foote photo)  Game Gallery

  SUNY Potsdam’s Sami Brown (4) of Canton, NY slides safely into third base for a triple against St. Lawrence University.

SUNY Potsdam’s Samantha Cohn (6) laces a double off the first pitch of the at bat.The Bears split with the Saints, winning 1-0 and then falling 9-8 in extra innings. Potsdam's Megan Johnson recorded a no-hitter.  (Camron Waters photo)  Game Gallery

April  14: The SUNY Potsdam softball team (6-12, 0-10 SUNYAC) dropped two games to SUNY Cortland (13-11, 6-2 SUNYAC) by a score of 12-6 and 12-2 Sunday afternoon. It was the Red Dragons who would strike first in the top of the first inning, capitalizing on a fielding error from Potsdam to take an early 4-0 lead. Junior Ashley Thayer returned the favor in the later half of the inning, crossing the plate on an error by the opposing catcher. The junior answered again in the second stanza with a bases loaded walk and an RBI to decrease the Cortland lead to 4-2. Yet, the Red Dragons put pressure on Thayer and the Bears in the field to notch six more runs over the next three innings to claim a 10-2 advantage going into the bottom of the sixth. Potsdam would keep fighting and a balk by the pitcher with runners in scoring position kept the Bears alive going into the final inning. Despite two more runs in the top of the seventh Potsdam continued to battle. Freshman Alexis Lerman sparked the Bears with a single through the left side, bringing in junior Molly McCuin. Shortly after, senior captain Heather Johnson notched a double to the right center fence to drive in two more runs. However, junior relief pitcher Krista Oakes secured the final strikeout of the game to give Cortland the 12-6 decision. Johnson led the Bears, hitting one for three while driving in two runs and earning two walks. Freshman Diane Cork was the top performer for the Red Dragons, going three for three with two RBIs. Thayer allowed seven hit in six innings pitched and recorded three strikeouts. In the second contest, Cortland used a strong second inning to pull away from Potsdam in a 12-2 victory. The Red Dragons were able to solve freshman pitcher Jordan Sarat after one inning to secure eight runs in the second. Sophomore Erin Wolstenholme ignited the Cortland bats with a homerun to left center to start off the inning. It was then an error by Potsdam that continued to fuel the Red Dragon run before freshman pitcher Carina Chirinko and the defense ended the inning. Cortland remained persistent as three more runs in the fifth extended the Red Dragon lead to 12-0. Potsdam would make one final push as senior Amanda Perry connected on a double to left center, bringing in two runs. Yet, Cortland was able to get out of the jam and close out the 12-2 win in five innings. Perry concluded two for three with two RBIs. Wolstenholme finished with four RBIs in a three for four showing at the plate. Sophomore Sarah Salamone pitched five innings and notched three strikeouts in the win. Potsdam returns to the diamond tomorrow against Oswego State at Maxcy Softball Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Apr. 6: Oneonta used a seven run fifth inning to pull away from the Bears in a 9-3 victory. Potsdam would cross the plate first as senior Amanda Perry connected on a single up the middle to drive in fellow senior Heather Johnson and junior Ashley Thayer. Thayer and company would hold the Red Dragons scoreless after the first inning to maintain a 2-0 lead. Thayer kept the momentum going in the second inning with a single shot to left center, bringing in H. Johnson to claim a 3-0 advantage. Oneonta would finally get on the board behind sophomore Nicole Marzillo's homerun to decrease the lead to 3-1 after two innings of play. The Red Dragons took over from there, scoring nine straight runs in three innings to claim a 9-3 lead going into the sixth. Potsdam looked to challenge Oneonta in the final inning with several runners on base but the Red Dragons would hold to for the win. Thayer led the Bears with a perfect three for three performance in the batters box and recorded one RBI. The junior completed four innings on the hill and notched three strikeouts. Perry went two for four with two RBIs. The Red Dragons continued to roll in the final contest, defeating the Bears 5-0. Oneonta struck in the bottom of the first as senior Kayln Deso tallied an RBI single to claim a 1-0 lead. The Red Dragons remained hot at the plate notching four more runs in the second inning to extend the deficit to 5-0. Junior Megan Johnson would come in to relieve freshman Jordan Sarat at the mound and shut down Oneonta for the remainder of the contest. The Bears would threaten with runners in scoring position in the fifth inning but sophomore pitcher Rachel Hitt was able to get out of the inning with the shutout intact. Solid defense by the Red Dragons for the final two innings denied Potsdam of a rally and secured the shutout victory. Deso and junior Chandler Campbell led Oneonta with two RBIs apiece. Hitt pitched seven innings with seven strikeouts and allowed six hits. M. Johnson recorded three strikeouts in four innings for the Bears. Potsdam returns to the diamond on Wednesday, April 10 in Utica, N.Y. to face SUNYIT for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.
 

SUNY Potsdam manufactured a run in the bottom of the second inning Molly Zehler singled in Jenny Jones for a 1-1 tie.  The Bears rallied for six runs in the fifth inning to take the lead, then fended off a SUNY Canton rally in the 6th inning for a 7-6 win in Game 1.  Potsdam won the second contest 5-0.
(Bob LaRue photo)  Game Gallery

SUNY New Paltz's Emily Frawley (2) hook slides to avoid the tag at second base from SUNY Potsdam shortstop Sami Brown (4) from Canton, NY. After building a 4-1 lead in the fourth inning of Game 1, New Paltz rallied to win the opener 8-4, The Hawks swept the nightcap 15-4.  (Bob LaRue photo)  Game Gallery

SUNY Plattsburgh’s Emily McDonagh (26) avoids being doubled off third base after a line-drive catch.  Plattsburgh swept Oswego 6-0, 5-4.  (Camron Waters photo) Game Gallery

April  14: The Plattsburgh State softball team used a pair of big innings to take both ends of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) doubleheader against Oswego State Sunday afternoon at Cardinal Park.   The Cardinals improve to 16-10 on the year and 6-4 in the SUNYAC. The Lakers drop to 6-12 overall and 3-5 against league opponents.   Game One: Plattsburgh State 6, Oswego State 0 After two innings of scoreless ball, the Cardinals’ offense exploded for six runs in the third to give Plattsburgh State all it would need to take game one of the twin bill.   Brittany Marshall drew a one-out walk in get things going in the bottom half of the third before advancing to third on a single to center field by Kristine Gay. Brianna Clarke ripped a single down the left field line to bring in Marshall for the first run of the game. Michelle Iannone reached on an error, allowing Gay to cross the plate and make it a 2-0 game.   With two on and one out, Megan Price kept the inning going with a single through the left side to score Clarke and give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead. Sam Capobianco stepped in next and sent the ball over the center field fence to clear the bases and give Plattsburgh State a 6-0 advantage.   Clarke went 2 for 2 in the opener with an RBI, a run scored and two stolen bases. Brittany Marshall walked twice while contributed one hit, one run and a stolen base.   Ashley Marshall walked two and struck out eight while holding the Lakers hitless through 5.1 innings. Marshall was lifted in the sixth for Morgan Anderson who allowed one hit and struck out two as the pair combined for the shutout. Marshall improves to 13-4 on the year with the win.   Offensively for the Lakers, Katie Bredin singled in the sixth for Oswego’s only hit in game one.   Game Two: Plattsburgh State 5, Oswego State 4 Brianna Clarke went 3 for 3 with three RBIs to lead the Cardinals to a 5-4 win in Sunday’s second game against the Lakers.   Oswego took the early lead on a sacrifice fly by Alexis Nasca in the top of the first but Plattsburgh State tied it up in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI single to right center by Clarke.   The Cardinals scored four runs in the second to take a 5-1 lead. Kerry McCarty drove in a pair of runs with an RBI double to left field before Clarke drilled a two-run home run far beyond the fence in left center to round out the scoring for the Cardinals.   Nasca held Plattsburgh State to four hits the rest of the way. The Oswego starter yielded five runs on 10 hits and two walks while striking out two in the loss.   The Lakers scored twice in the top of the third when a throwing error by Plattsburgh State’s Michelle Iannone allowed two runs to score and make in a two-run game. Oswego added another run in the fifth on an RBI single by Justine Abramowski but that is as close as the visitors would come.   Brittany Marshall was 2 for 4 at the plate in game two with a run scored while Kristine Gay added two hits.   Oswego’s Sammie Schroeter accounted for two of the Lakers’ five hits. Dee Apps also scored two runs for the Lakers.   Sam Moss began the game in the circle for the Cardinals, allowing two earned runs on four hits through 4.1 innings of work. Moss walked three and struck out two in her third win of the year. Ashley Marshall came out of the bullpen to work 2.2 scoreless innings where she allowed one hit and struck out five.   The Cardinals continue conference play Monday with a doubleheader against Cortland scheduled for 1 p.m. at Cardinal Park

Apr. 6: The Plattsburgh State softball team (12-10, 4-4 SUNYAC) dropped two games to New Paltz (15-6, 8-0 SUNYAC) in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Mary Gray Deane Field. The Hawks won game one, 3-0, before taking game two by an 11-8 final. Game one was a low-scoring affair, as the Hawks plated all of their runs in the first three innings. Junior first baseman Chelsea Kull pushed across the first run of the game in the home half of the first, scoring sophomore designated player Shayna Burgess with a bases-loaded single. New Paltz kicked off the bottom of the third with back-to-back singles from senior second baseman Melissa Liotta sophomore right fielder Marissa Monaco, and after two straight outs, senior center fielder Andrea Feeney the bases with a two-run single to center field. Plattsburgh then relieved its starter, Samantha Moss, in favor of Ashley Marshall, and Marshall ended up holding the Hawks hitless the remainder of the contest. The Cardinals, however, were held scoreless, and New Paltz held on for the game-one win. Liotta and Monaco keyed the Hawk bats in the front end of the twinbill. Liotta batted 2-for-2 with one run scored, while Monaco went 2-for-3 with one run scored. Feeney finished with a game-high two RBI. Senior pitcher Amber Carozza threw a shutout for the second time in as many days, allowing two hits, two walks and one hit by pitch while striking out three. Moss was tagged with the loss, lasting 2 2/3 innings. She yielded three runs off seven hits and one hit by pitch while striking out one. Marshall hurled 3 1/3 frames of hitless relief and struck out 10. Marshall was unable to repeat her strong game-one performance in game two, as she lasted just four innings before being pulled in favor of Morgan Anderson. Plattsburgh took an early 2-0 lead in the second, as Kerry McCarty singled up the middle with two outs to score Megan Price and Kristine Gay. New Paltz answered in the bottom of the inning, as Kull laced an RBI double to left center before coming around to score herself on an RBI single by sophomore left fielder Noelle Grande. Brewer helped give the Hawks the lead with a sacrifice fly in the third, while freshman catcher Jordan Fiore made it a 4-2 game in the fourth with an RBI single to the shortstop. That lead was short-lived, however, as the Cardinals plated three runs in the fifth to seize a 5-4 advantage. New Paltz broke the game open in the fifth and sixth innings. The Hawks scored three times before Plattsburgh was able to record an out in the fifth, as Monaco and Kull each plated a run before Brewer came across off a throwing error by Marshall. New Paltz then boasted three consecutive RBI hits with one out in the sixth, with Monaco, Brewer and Kull accounting for each. Grande’s RBI single up the middle that pushed across Kull later on in the frame served as the Hawks’ final run of the contest. The Cardinals threatened in the seventh, as Gay and Price each singled to lead off the inning. Freshman pitcher Katie Rutcofsky struck out Michelle Iannone looking for the first out, but Plattsburgh answered with runs in two consecutive at-bats. McCarty boasted an RBI single down the left-field line before Price scored due to a throwing error. With runners on second and third, Kristin Nabor drew Plattsburgh within three runs with an RBI ground out. Brianna Clarke ended up fouling out to Kull in the next at-bat, which served as the game’s final out. Game two featured six multi-hit performances for the Hawks. Monaco went 3-for-4 with two RBI, one run scored and a double; Kull went 3-for-4 with three RBI, two runs scored and two doubles; Feeney went 3-for-4 with one run scored; Fiore went 2-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI; Brewer went 2-for-2 with three runs scored, two RBI and a double; and Grande went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Plattsburgh was led offensively by Clarke (3-for-5, one double), Gay (2-for-3, three runs scored), Price (2-for-3, three runs scored, one RBI), Iannone (2-for-4, one RBI) and McCarty (2-for-4, three RBI, one run scored). Rutcofsky moved to 5-0 for the year, allowing eight runs—six of which were earned—off 12 hits and four walks while striking out five. Marshall was saddled with the loss, permitting seven runs—six of which were earned—off 11 hits, a walk and a hit by pitch while striking out four. Anderson threw two innings of relief, yielding four runs off five hits and a walk while striking out two. The Cardinals will look to rebound Tuesday with a pair of non-conference at Union College starting at 3:30 p.m.

SUNY Canton’s Nicole Mulieri (4) is out be a stride at first base in Wednesday's game against St. Lawrence. The Roos surged in the final inning but still fell short to the Saints 6-3.
(Cody Jenne photo)  Game Gallery

April. 7: The SUNY Canton softball team dropped a twinbill to Briarcliffe College on Sunday losing 8-1 and 7-2 at the PAL Complex in Patchogue, N.Y. The Roos, ranked eighth in the latest USCAA Coaches Poll, moved to 10-14 overall after Sunday’s games with the 3rd-ranked Bulldogs. In game one, the Roos manufactured a run in the first inning off an RBI-single from senior Tina DeLuca (Fresh Meadows, N.Y.).  Briarcliffe came back to score three runs in the third inning and five more in the fifth inning. Juniors Nicole Mulieri (Afton, N.Y.) and Andrea Rogers (Munnsville, N.Y.) each singled, and junior Allie Gibson (North Tonawanda, N.Y.) struck out four batters in six innings and allowed eight runs on 14 hits. In the second game the Roos scored one run in the fourth inning and one more in the sixth.  Mulieri led off the fourth with a double, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from senior Amanda Bitting (Stillwater, N.Y.), and then came home on another RBI-single from DeLuca.  Rogers smacked a two-out double in the sixth and then scored when Gibson ripped a double.  Rogers and Gibson each finished 2-for-3 and DeLuca absorbed the loss as she gave up seven runs on 13 hits with two strikeouts in six innings. The Roos play their third straight doubleheader on Monday at Oneonta State starting at 3 p.m.

Apr. 6: The SUNY Canton softball team rallied to pull out a 6-4 victory over Brooklyn College in the second game of a doubleheader at BC Field in Brooklyn on Saturday.  The Bulldogs won the opening game 6-4. The Roos moved to 10-12 overall and have won six of their last seven contests.  Brooklyn is now 12-9 overall. SUNY Canton got off to a good start in the second game taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.  Junior Nicole Mulieri (Afton, N.Y.) led off the stanza bunting for a single and then came around to score when junior Allie Gibson (North Tonawanda, N.Y.) ripped a single up the middle. That lead would hold for the next three innings before the visitors stretched their advantage to a 2-0 margin in the fourth inning.  Gibson led off with another single up the middle and came home on an RBI-single from freshman Kristyn Reynolds (Malone, N.Y.).  The Bulldogs trimmed the lead in half with a single run in the bottom of the fourth and then surged ahead 3-2 posting two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.  But SUNY Canton would deny Brooklyn the sweep scoring two runs in the top of the sixth inning on three straight doubles.  Junior Andrea Rogers (Munnsville, N.Y.)  doubled to left field and advanced to third on a wild pitch, and then tied the game scoring on a Gibson double to left centerfield.  Sophomore Hallie Fenti (Hornell, N.Y.) then smacked a double to left field that plated Gibson with the game-winning run. Gibson finished 3-for-3.  Rogers ended the game 2-for-3 and Mulieri had two singles. Senior Tina DeLuca (Fresh Meadows, N.Y.) won her seventh game striking out three batters and allowing 10 hits and no walks in seven innings. Stephanie Caravello tripled for Brooklyn and Marie Oneto surrendered four earned runs on nine hits with two strikeouts in seven innings. In the opening game, Rogers belted her team-leading sixth home run with a two-run shot to centerfield in the top of the sixth that trimmed the Bulldogs lead to 5-3.  Brooklyn got one back in the bottom half of the inning to push their lead to 6-3. The Roos scored one run in the top of the seventh and put runners on third twice with a chance to tie the game, but Mulieri was caught trying to steal home and Rogers was thrown out at second on another steal attempt to end the game. Rogers went 2-for-3 and scored twice.  Mulieri added two singles, and Gibson and Fenti each singled once.  Gibson also took the loss on the mound as she gave up 12 hits and three walks with two strikeouts in six innings. The Roos return to the diamond on Sunday with a doubleheader at Briarcliffe College.

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