New Paltz Hawks Sweep Cortland for First Time Since 1994

By Monica D’Ippolito

CORTLAND – The State University of New York at New Paltz went on the road to get a critical sweep of SUNY Cortland Friday, 2-1 and 8-2, respectively.

The Hawks improved to 5-1 in the SUNYAC with the pair of wins and marked their first doubleheader sweep of the Red Dragons since 1994.

Lindsay Roman, who came off pitching the program’s first ever perfect game in a win over Geneseo, improved to 10-2 on the year after pitching through her seventh complete game while giving up just five hits, one walk and no earned runs in a game one 2-1 victory.

The Hawks gave Roman a quick two-run lead to start the game with Rhionna Bianchini and Jackie Rometo getting the offense going with a single and double, respectively. Jillian Shelbourne plated Bianchini on a groundout to first before Sydney Bonewit ripped a two-out RBI double to bring Rometo home.

The Red Dragons cut the deficit to a run in the fourth, getting their lead-off hitter on with a hit by pitch. A throwing error advanced the runner over a batter later, scoring on the ensuing at-bat on a fielder’s choice.

Cortland threatened in the bottom of the seventh, leading off with a double. Roman was meticulous getting the first out on a line-out in the following at-bat. She gave up a single to allow runners on the corners, but she worked herself out of the jam, forcing a ground out then a pop up to secure the 2-1 win.

SUNY New Paltz out-hit the Red Dragons, 7-5 with Rometo the only Hawk to register a pair of hits in the game, as she added a run. Shelbourne went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. Juliet Bernstein had a stolen base with two walks.

Quality pitching continued for SUNY. New Paltz in game two with Sydney Waldon earning the start. She recorded her third complete game on the year, pitching all seven innings, giving up just two earned runs, seven hits, two walks with three strikeouts while holding a shutout through five.

The Hawks got out early again, adding a run in the top of the first on an RBI fielder’s choice by Emmie Mae Cabrera, which scored Bianchini. SUNY New Paltz piled on in the next inning, as Bonewit’s hot bat continued with a lead-off base hit. A sacrifice bunt by Bernstein moved Bonewit over who later scored on a groundout by Bianchini. The Hawks then hit back-to-back-to-back two-out singles with Rometo scoring Lauren Serrao and Cabrera plating Rometo to push the lead to 4-0.

Each team scored a pair in the fifth, but the Hawks put the final touches on the win with two in the sixth thanks to a two-RBI base hit by Bonewit to cap the day.

SUNY New Paltz posted 14 hits in game two and was clean in the field. Bonewit led the way going 3-for-4 with one run and two RBI. Shelbourne followed, hitting 2-for-3 with a run and a walk. Jaycee Filancia also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4, while Rometo added a hit, run, RBI and walk.