Winter Haven, FL – Softball wrapped up another day of tournament play, dropping their opener to NYU before pushing Plattsburgh to extra innings in a hard-fought finale.
THE BASICS
- Final Score: NYU 10, Hartwick 0
- Location: Winter Haven, FL
- Records: NYU (6-9, 0-0 Liberty League) Hartwick (1-6. 0-0 Empire 8)
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1 vs. NYU)
Hartwick Softball dropped a 10-0 decision to NYU, the Violets pulling away in the middle innings.
NYU opened the scoring in the first inning on an unearned run, taking advantage of an error to go-ahead 1-0. The Hawks' defense responded in the second, stranding three runners and preventing further damage to keep the game within reach.
The Violets hit a turning point in the third inning, capitalizing on four hits to plate four runs, extending their lead 5-0. The scoring continued with three more runs following another Hartwick error. NYU tacked on two additional runs in the fifth to bring the final score to 10-0.
Hartwick was limited offensively,
Sierra Phillips (Salem, NY) recording the only Hawks hit of the game in the third inning.
Mihaly Blake (Troy, NY) and
Brianna Blake (Mechanicville, NY) drew two walks to give the Hawks an edge but were unable to convert- leaving four runners on base and advancing just one runner into scoring position.
In the circle, Hartwick used multiple arms, with
Ashley Hacker (Schenectady, NY) starting and finishing in the circle, and
Anna Klein (Souderton, PA) entering for the middle innings. The Hawks' defense recorded key outs early, including a scoreless second inning that featured a bases-loaded escape.
Despite the final scoreline, the Hawks showed early defensive resilience heading into their final game of the day.
THE BASICS
- Final Score: Plattsburgh 9, Hartwick 8
- Location: Winter Haven, FL
- Records: Plattsburgh (4-5, 0-0 SUNYAC) Hartwick (1-7. 0-0 Empire 8)
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2 vs. Plattsburgh)
The Hartwick Hawks put together a strong offensive showing but were edged 9-8 in extra innings by Plattsburgh.
After two scoreless innings, Hartwick broke through in the third.
Sierra Phillips reached on an error to spark the rally, and
Alicea Seitzinger (Bridgeton, NJ) followed with an RBI single.
Samantha Moore (Mamaroneck, NY) delivered the big hit of the inning, driving in two runs with a single; Part of a three-hit frame that gave the Hawks a 3-0 lead.
Hartwick stayed aggressive in the fourth, again capitalizing on Plattsburgh errors. With runners on, Phillips reached on another error that brought home two unearned runs, and Seitzinger added her second RBI of the game to extend the lead to 6-1.
Plattsburgh began to chip away, Hartwick continuing to respond. In the sixth inning,
Madi Hoerman (Portage, MI) came through with an RBI single to push the Hawks ahead 7-4, marking the Blue and White's ninth hit of the game as they applied pressure.
The Cardinals answered in the bottom half, scoring three runs to tie the game 7-7, forcing extra innings.
Hartwick finished with 8 runs on 9 hits,
Shannon Mentz adding two of her own, while
Samantha Moore led the team with two RBIs.
Despite carrying leads of 6-1 and 7-4, Hartwick was unable to hold off a late Plattsburgh surge, as the Cardinals answered in the bottom of the eighth to secure the walk-off win.
About Hartwick College:
Hartwick, often referred to as The Life Balance College, is a private liberal arts and sciences institution in Oneonta, N.Y. Through its distinctive FlightPath approach, Hartwick blends academic excellence, career preparation and an active campus life to help students achieve a balanced and fulfilling college experience. With transparent tuition and a focus on health and wellness, Hartwick prepares students for lifelong success—both professionally and personally.
