New Paltz, NY --- In its 2015 regular season finale on Monday, the Brooklyn College Softball team (18-16) dropped a non-conference doubleheader against the Hawks of SUNY New Paltz (19-16) at Mary Gray Deane Field.
New Paltz took the opener with relative ease, 7-1; before completing a comeback in its last at-bats to take the night cap and twin bill sweep, 5-4.
In game one, BC wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard, as
Kimberly Brennan's RBI groundout scored
Kayla Hill in the top of the first. Hill would finish the game going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
The Hawks would answer in their half of the first, as Meg Brewer's RBI single down the right field line scored Shayna Burgess to tie the game at one all.
New Paltz would later add two more runs in the bottom of the third to go ahead 3-1, as Fallon Spriggs' RBI single up the middle brought home Kiersten Carlomagno, while Burgess scored on a throwing error by the catcher.
The home team would break the game open in the bottom of fifth by plating four runs to take a 7-1 lead, the eventual final score.
Brewer began the four-run inning with a two-run double to left that scored Burgess and Samantha Colca. Brewer would come into score on a sacrifice fly from Alex Verso, while Erika Traina would cap the inning scoring the final run.
Colca, Burgess and Brewer all had two hits each in the game, while Burgess scored three times and Brewer drove in three runs.
Hill (9-6) took the loss for BC, allowing seven runs (five earned) on nine hits, while walking two over six innings of work. Her counterpart, Traina, allowed one unearned run on four hits, while walking one and striking out four over seven complete innings.
Game two would see the home team strike first, as the Hawks notched a pair of runs in the bottom of the second to take an early 2-0 advantage. Danielle Bruno scored the first run by taking advantage of a fielding error by the centerfielder, while Tierney Hornbeck's RBI single up the middle brought home Molly Peymann.
Brooklyn would cut its deficit in half in the top of the fourth, as
Becky Ganley's double to left center scored
Kristina Bermudez to get the Bulldogs on the board.
BC would then take the lead in the top of the fifth with a three-run rally to go ahead 4-2.
Ashley Tkacsik's RBI double to center scored
Samantha Rodriguez to tie the game at two apiece, while Bermudez's RBI single up the middle scored
Michelle Cranston, who came into the game as a pinch runner, to give the visitor's the lead. Bermudez would come in to score on an RBI single to center from
Geena Bell.
Trailing by two heading into the seventh and final inning, the Hawks would rally scoring three wins to complete the comeback, walk-off win.
Juliette Verso's RBI single to third scored Alexa Mastando to begin the rally, while Katie Rutcofsky's pinch-hit RBI single through the right side scored Burgess to tie the game. Bruno's RBI double to right would bring home Verso for the game winning run.
Tkacsik (6-5) took the loss for BC, allowing five runs on 10 hits, while striking out two over 6.1 innings.
New Paltz used three pitchers in the game, as Lauren Cappello started the game, allowing just one run on four hits, while walking three and striking out two over four innings. Brewer surrendered three runs (two earned) on four hits over 0.2 innings, while Traina (5-4) picked up her second win of the day, allowing just two hits and one walk over 2.1 innings.
Hill, Bermudez and Ganley all had two hits each in the game for BC. Bermudez also scored twice in the game.
Bruno and Peymann each had a multi-hit game for the Hawks.
With Hill's two hits and Rodriguez's one hit in game two, both players have reached 50 hits on the season. The last player to record a 50-hit season was Kim Konklewski in 2012 when she posted 56 hits.
With the regular season now in the rear view mirror, the Bulldogs will now turn their attention to the CUNYAC Championships, as #3 seed Brooklyn will host #6 Baruch College in the First Round this Wednesday, April 29th. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 pm at Brooklyn College Field. The winner will take on #2 Hunter College on day one of the double elimination round of the championships on Friday, May 1st at College of Staten Island at 2:00 pm.
