VIRGINIA BEACH, VA.--The SUNY Potsdam softball team (2-2) defeated SUNY Cobleskill (0-3) 13-5 in six innings, before falling to Rhode Island College (2-2) 7-5 on the final day of the Virginia Wesleyan Beach Blast. Freshman pitcher Kayla Palmer (Chester, N.Y./Chester) earned a victory in her first collegiate start. Junior center fielder Brooke Falsion (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport) was 6-for-9 on the day with five runs scored and an RBI.

The Bears were first to get on the board with senior left fielder Samantha Hubinsky (Gansevoort, N.Y./South Glens Falls) laying down a squeeze bunt to allow Falsion to score. With runners on the corners freshman third baseman Sydney Miller (Hoosick Falls, N.Y./Hoosick Falls) single to right center to bring in sophomore first baseman Megan Fish (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North) and give Potsdam an early 2-0 lead.

Senior pitcher Meghan Dougherty (East Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia) started in the circle for the Bears. After taking care of the first two batters, Dougherty dealt with some questionable calls and could not retire another batter. Dougherty gave up a single along with four walks, and was taken out for Palmer with the game knotted at two. Palmer entered the game with the bases loaded and the Fighting Tigers managed to plate three more before Cobleskill ended the inning with a 5-2 lead.

Potsdam was able to tie the game up at five during the top of the second. Hubinsky hit a two out double into centerfield, allowing Falsion and sophomore right fielder Lucy Condon (Kitchener, Ontario/St. David Catholic) to cross the plate. Senior designated hitter Lauren Brace (Moriah, N.Y./Moriah Central) entered the box with runners on the corners and singled up the middle, scoring Hubinsky.

The Bears' rally continued into the third tallying up six more runs. Condon hit a two RBI single down the right field line, followed by Hubinsky hitting a two RBI double up the middle. Brace brought in another run singling to right center. Sophomore catcher Lacey Saucier (Williamstown, N.Y./APW) came in to pitch run, and bought some time in a run down to allow Fish to cross the plate before being tagged out. Potsdam went into the bottom of the third ahead 11-5.

Both teams stayed scoreless until the top of the sixth where Potsdam scored their last two. Sophomore second baseman Sarah Hyland (Stony Brook, N.Y./Ward Melville) crossed the plate after an error by the Fighting Tigers shortstop. Falsion was the last to touch the plate after a one out ground out, making it 13-5.

Palmer (1-0) shut down Cobleskill for the rest of game. In her 5.1 innings, she struck out four, walked two, gave up no runs and allowed one hit. Edyliese Aquino (0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing 10 runs on 12 hits in 2.1 innings. Katerina Weingarten came in to relief Aquino. She struck out one, walked four, and gave up an unearned run in 2.1 innings. McKenzie Cobb closed out the game, pitching the final 1.1 innings, striking out one, giving up one hit and two unearned runs.

Falsion finished the game 4-for-5 with four runs, while Hubinsky went 2-for-2 with 5 RBI. Brace ended the game 3-for-3 with two RBI and Hyland went 3-for-3 with three singles and a walk.

In the second game of the day, Rhode Island College's third baseman Chelsea Schott singled to left center and scored two. Before the end of the first pitcher Briana Gough singled to right field and scored one more, giving the Anchormen a 3-0 lead.

Falsion stayed hot from game 1, and started game 2 with a triple. Condon brought Falsion in with a bunt and narrowed the gap 3-1.

In the top of the third, with two out and two on first baseman Kelsey Wood singled through the left side, bringing in one and extending the lead 4-1. For the bottom half of the inning, Hubinsky doubled to right center. A couple batters later Hubinsky was on third for Miller to single to right field, bringing her in and narrowing the gap 4-2.

After a controversial call in the fifth, Wood singled to center field and brought in two to extend their lead to four. Potsdam got one back after a sacrifice fly from Brace.

Before the Bears got one more chance, center fielder Michaela DeAngelis singled to right field to bring in left fielder Shaelyn DaSilveria in the top seventh. With two outs left and two runners on, Brace hit a single up the middle for Condon to score. One out later Palmer stepped up to the plate, and reached first on an error which also brought in Fish, narrowing the lead 7-5. Potsdam could not get any closer, as they came up short 7-5.

Gough went seven complete innings, striking out six, walking one, and giving up our runs on 13 hits. Junior pitcher Alissa McCauley (Malone, N.Y./Franklin Academy) pitched three innings, striking out one, giving up four runs on six hits. Hubinsky (1-1) received the loss after pitching four innings, striking out three, and allowing one earned run on six hits.

Condon went 3-for-4, scoring twice and an RBI. Brace went 2-for-3 and brought in two, while Falsion, Hubinsky, and Fish all went 2-for-4 and scored once.

The Bears return to action on March 23 when they play against Wilkes University in a doubleheader at Wilkes-Barre, Pa.