Boxscore and Play-by-Play         
 
CORTLAND, N.Y. – An early six-run deficit doomed the Plattsburgh State baseball team as the Cardinals were unable to rally in an 8-2 loss to Cortland in the opening game of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Tournament.
 
Matt June led off the bottom half of the first inning with a double to left center before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt and scoring on a wild pitch by Plattsburgh’s starter Kyle Kelly. Top-seeded Cortland (33-7-1) added another run in the first and two more in the second to jump out to an early 4-0 lead.
 
The Red Dragons cushioned their lead in the third when Brian Barry scored on a fielder’s choice and Bryan Mistretta drove home a run to put Plattsburgh (22-16) down by six runs.
 
Plattsburgh was finally able to get on the board in the eighth when an infield single by Greg Larnerd allowed Damian Tyler to score. The Cardinals pushed another run across in the ninth on an RBI single by Mike Varques but Cortland added two more insurance runs late in the game to secure the win.
 
Andrew Pezzuto led the Red Dragons going 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs.
 
Tyler was the only Cardinal to pick up multiple hits, finishing the day with two. Larnerd, Varques, Kris Cauchon, Casey Brighton and Brian Latulipe each had a hit for Plattsburgh.
 
Aaron Schuldt held Plattsburgh to four hits through eight innings and registered eight strikeouts to earn the win.
 
Kelly suffered the loss for the Cardinals, allowing four earned runs on seven hits in three innings of work. Dan Tracy allowed two runs in five innings of relief.
 
The Cardinals will look to stay alive in the double-elimination tournament tomorrow at 10 a.m. Plattsburgh will face the loser of the Brockport/Oneonta matchup.