CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State softball team (30-8) continued to roll through the SUNYAC playoffs as they defeated top-seed and host team Cortland (37-6) 10-1 after just five innings of play Friday.
Boxscore
The Cardinals have been an offensive force since playoffs began and have not played after the fifth inning of play in their last two games.
The Red Dragons, who only had one conference blemish coming into playoffs thanks to Plattsburgh, were shell-shocked after a huge fifth inning by the Cardinals.
The Cardinals started with a run in the first inning after Brittany Marshall made 1-0 on a Red Dragon wild pitch. Cortland answered back immediately when Lucia Meola scored after Meaghan Kohler grounded out.
The second and third innings remained scoreless, but the Cardinals opened things up in the fourth inning.
Katie McNally singled right up the middle to bring Kayla Rabideau home and give the Cardinals a 2-1 lead. Dana Mandery then smacked a ball to left center which got her to second base and allowed Erin Florkiewicz to score, and then as Megan Price flied out, McNally scored to give the Cardinals a three run lead.
Ashley Marshall held the Red Dragons scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, but Plattsburgh would break out in the fifth inning and effectively seal the game.
With runners on first and second, Florkiewicz slammed a home run in to left center and made it 7-1 in favor of the Cardinals. The Cardinals were then able to load the bases with Brittany Marshall up to bat. Marshall hit a single that brought in McNally and then Allison Smiddy hit a single of her own to bring in Price and Mandery. The six-run inning meant that Ashley Marshall could end the game in the fifth inning.
With the bases loaded, Ashley Marshall struck out the final two batters to keep the Cardinals perfect in postseason play and hand the Red Dragons their first blemish of the tournament.
Heather Loughran earned the win for the Cardinals after pitching the opening three innings before Ashley Marshall took the save. Abby Martin was credited with the loss for the Red Dragons.
Plattsburgh will now face the winner of the Brockport and Cortland matchup tomorrow at 1.30 p.m. The winner of the SUNYAC tournament will advance to the NCAA tournament.
