Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – After seeing their season opener get pushed further and further back due to inclement weather, the Plattsburgh State baseball team was finally able to hit the field for the first time in 2013, but the results weren’t quite what they hoped for.

The Cardinals dropped their first two games of the season to Farmingdale State (5-6) in the SUNYAC/Skyline Challenge on Sunday.  

GAME ONE: Farmingdale State 9, Plattsburgh State 4
Marc Plante had a rough outing to begin his final season in a Plattsburgh State uniform, giving up eight runs to Farmingdale State in the first two innings. The damage wrought by the Rams in the bottom of the first could have been minimized, but an error by right fielder Mike Vargues allowed two unearned runs to cross the plate and make matters 4-0 after one inning of play.

A bases-loaded walk issued by Plante made matters 5-0 in the second before Dalton McCarthy hammered a double down the right field line that brought home another two runs for the Rams.

Plante was replaced by fellow senior Brian Burns after a sacrifice fly by Terrence Bohonan made the score 8-0 in the second with no outs recorded in the frame.

Burns quieted down the Rams’ bats during his four innings of work, allowing just one more run to the home squad during that span. He gave up just two hits while issuing five bases on balls.

Offense was difficult to come by for the Cardinals, as Brian Latulipe finally recorded the first hit of the season for the visitors with a leadoff single down the left field line in the fourth inning.

The Cardinals finally broke through the scoring barrier in the fifth inning, as Casey Brighton rifled a double down the right field line to open the frame. Brighton and Vargues later pulled off a double steal with the former stealing home for the first Plattsburgh State run.

Down to their last set of outs in the top of the ninth, the Cardinals tacked on three more runs beginning with Mike Mulvihill bringing in Mat Chavez by reaching on an error by the Farmingdale State shortstop.

Kevin Briggs and Brighton each picked up an RBI via groundouts to account for the final 9-4 margin.

Plante suffered the loss, working just one inning and giving up eight run – six of which were earned. Latulipe went 2-for-4 at the dish and picked up his first stolen base of the season as well.

The Cardinals managed just five hits, including three off Farmingdale State starter Anthony Eilers (1-1). The Rams pounded out 13 hits – seven of which came in the first two innings and committed one error during the opening game of the double dip.

GAME TWO: Farmingdale State 1, Plattsburgh State 0
The two clubs piled up some 17 hits over the course of the second game, but a sacrifice bunt by the Rams in the bottom of the eighth inning allowed the home squad to walk away with two victories on the day.

Eric Wiener sent a dribbler to Colin Crawford, who got the out at first base but didn’t see Nick Ventricelli racing to home plate for the only run of the game.

Kyle Kelly fired six innings of shutout baseball for the Cardinals, allowing eight hits while fanning a pair of Farmingdale State batters during his first start of the season.

Rams starter Michael Dolce matched the strong outing by Kelly, working through five innings and giving up six hits to the Plattsburgh State batters.

The best scoring chance Plattsburgh State received came in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, Ben Weightman, Mat Chavez and Luke Weaver slapped consecutive singles to the outfield to load the bases for Latupile.

Latulipe, though, was unable to bring home any Plattsburgh State runners as he bounced into a fielder’s choice.
Ventricelli was brought in as a pinch runner during the decisive eighth inning and advanced to second base on a passed ball before swiping third base to set up the game-winning play.

Plattsburgh State couldn’t mount a comeback in the ninth, as the three batters who went to the plate were retired in order to end the game.

Crawford was hit with his first loss of the season while James Powers (2-1) picked up the victory.

Chavez went 2-for-4 during the second game to lead the way for the Cardinals.

"Aside from our first two innings, I thought we played really well," said Plattsburgh State head coach Kris Doorey. "Kyle Kelly threw the ball really well for us today, and I'm pleased with the way we competed to begin the season."

It will be one week until the Cardinals will hit the field again, but this time it will be at a far more temperate location. Plattsburgh State will head to Winter Haven, Florida, to take part in the RussMatt Invitational. Their first two games in the Sunshine State will be against Washington and Jefferson College on Sunday, March 17, with the first pitch of the doubleheader scheduled for 2 p.m.