CAMDEN, N.J. (Feb. 23, 2023) – The SUNY-New Paltz softball team opened its season with a bang here Thursday, collecting 31 hits as it swept past Rutgers University-Camden in a non-conference doubleheader.
 
The Hawks won the opener, 6-1, before taking a five-inning victory in the nightcap, 16-0.
 
The Scarlet Raptors are idle until their spring break trip to Florida, March 11-17. They will play both the Wentworth Institute of Technology (11:30 a.m.) and Benedictine University (2 p.m.) in Winter Haven to open their trip March 11.
   
The Hawks scored all the runs they needed on a first-inning grand slam by senior catcher Juliet Bernstein. After sophomore left fielder Jackie Rometo reached on an error to open the game, freshman third baseman Kelsey O'Brien singled. One out later, junior designated player Kelly Marmorowski walked, setting up Bernstein's home run to center field.
 
Junior pitcher Lindsay Roman worked the first four innings of three-hit ball to collect the win, walking two and striking out three. Sophomore Sydney Waldon picked up a three-inning save, throwing three-hit shutout ball.
 
Rometo and junior second baseman Isabella Shepherd had two hits apiece in the 11-hit New Paltz attack.
 
Senior second baseman Cate Petrucelli went 3-for-3, including an RBI single in the third inning, to account for half of the Scarlet Raptor hits.
   
New Paltz collected 20 hits and scored in every inning except the first as the Hawks earned a sweep. They posted five-run frames in both the third and fifth innings.
 
Senior pitcher Jillian Harrison, meanwhile, was a terror both at the plate and on the mound. She hurled one-hit ball over four innings, allowing only a leadoff triple in the third inning to junior right fielder Kamryn Kennedy, and went 3-for-3 with three runs and three RBIs at the plate.
 
Freshman catcher Emmie Mae Cabrera went 2-for-4 with four RBIs for the winners, while O'Brien was 3-for-4 with three runs.
 
Rutgers-Camden's only other hit was a fifth-inning single by junior center fielder Alexa McNee.
 
Sophomore hurler Lindsey Rodzon started and took the loss in both games for the Scarlet Raptors. She fanned seven batters over her seven innings of work. Senior Rachel White hurled five total innings in relief, striking out two.