ALBANY – The College of Saint Rose softball team suffered a pair of setbacks tonight in a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader versus Southern Connecticut State University at Cathy Cummings Haker Field. The Owls overcame a three-run deficit to take the opener 12-9 and then received a solid pitching performance en route to a 6-0 triumph in game two.

Southern Connecticut (11-10/4-4 NE-10) piled up 18 hits in the opener, with a majority of the damage coming from the top-five batters in the lineup. Senior second baseman Robin Priest led the way with a 4-for-5 effort and four RBI. Meanwhile, sophomore center fielder Brittany Bucko and junior right-hander Jessica Rosa each went 3-for-4. Rosa additionally went the distance in the circle to improve to 3-2 on the year.

The Golden Knights (5-14/1-7 NE-10) received two hits apiece from freshman center fielder Amber Loussedes, sophomore second baseman Michelle Schroll and sophomore catcher Rachel Reed.

Saint Rose erased a 3-0 deficit with six runs in the third. Loussedes slapped an RBI single, freshman left fielder Olivia Reeves delivered a two-run double and then Reed punctuated things with a three-run blast over the left field wall.

The Owls clawed their way back and pulled back in front behind seven runs in the sixth. Priest got things going with a homer to left. A pair of Saint Rose miscues then led to four unearned runs in the frame.

The Golden Knights battled back with three runs in the seventh. Following an RBI double by Reed, freshman left-hander Mikayla Wells singled through the left side to bring the tying run to the plate. However, Rosa induced a ground ball to fizzle the comeback bid.

In the nightcap, junior right-hander Brittany Hill chalked up her first victory of the year for Southern Connecticut. Hill tossed 7.0 scoreless innings, scattered five hits and recorded three strikeouts to keep the Saint Rose bats at bay.

Reeves wound up 2-for-3 to lead the way for the Golden Knights. Meanwhile, Schroll and Reed each went 1-for-3.

Four different players added two hits each for the Owls. Rosa finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, sophomore third baseman Alyssa Downs was 2-for-3 with two runs and a homer and sophomore shortstop Kristin Whitley was 2-for-4 with two runs.

Saint Rose returns to action this Saturday when they hit the road for a league doubleheader at Saint Anselm College. Game one is scheduled to start at noon. Meanwhile, Southern Connecticut heads to Merrimack College for a noon doubleheader in North Andover, MA on Saturday.

Box Score - Game 1; Box Score - Game 2