Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 AUBURNDALE, Fla. – So far, walk-off hits have proven to be one of the most popular ways for the Plattsburgh State baseball team to pile up victories in 2013 as the Cardinals (2-6) split a double header with Hamilton (3-1) at the RussMatt Invitational thanks to yet another well-timed swing.

GAME ONE: Plattsburgh State 3, Hamilton 2 (7 inn.)
Retaining their flair for the dramatic, the Cardinals once again found themselves down headed into their final three at bats before Nick Lupo provided a walk-off single through the left side that scored John Casten and gave Plattsburgh State a 3-2 victory in their first of two tilts on the day.

While they did pick up the win, the Cardinals got help from an unlikely source. Hamilton committed three errors during the seven-inning bout that led to all three of the runs by the Cardinals.

Looking to forget all about his disastrous outing in the first game of the season, Marc Plante got his second start of the season and proceeded to dominate from the get-go.

The senior gave up just four hits to the Continentals and induced 11 ground ball outs while striking out a pair of opposing hitters during his day on the hill.

Plante, who hails from Massena, N.Y., did give up five walks on the day, but those free passes wound up counting for nothing as the Continentals couldn’t solve Plante for the majority of the tilt.

With Plante going strong on the bump, it looked as though Brian Latulipe’s run would be the only thing Plattsburgh State needed to earn the victory. After leading off the bottom of the fourth with a single, a balk by Hamilton hurler Jay Lane advanced Latulipe to second.

Mike Mulvihill sent a hard drive to Hamiton third baseman Tim Burke, who misplayed the ball and allowed Latulipe to come all the way around from second to make matters 1-0 Cardinals.

Needing just three more outs in the top of the seventh, Plante saw the first batter he faced reach on an error by Latulipe before Nick Taylor knotted things at one as the Continental launched a double to left field that scored the Hamilton runner on first.

Plante handed things over to Steven Corea, who got the first two Hamilton batters he faced to ground out before Sam Fuentes put the designated visiting team ahead for the first time with a single down the right field line that scored Taylor before Corea (1-0) registered his only strikeout of the game for the final out of the frame.

After Mulvihill drew a walk to begin the Plattsburgh State seventh, Casten reached on a fielding error to put runners at first and second. Chris Pescetti laid down a great bunt, allowing Casten and Jimmy Rosario – who was the pinch-runner for Mulvihill – to advance to second and third.

Mike Vargues tied things at two after the sophomore put down another bunt that plated Rosario on the squeeze play before Lupo’s game-winning hit.

Lupo went 2-for-3 at the plate while Latulipe picked up the only other hit for the Cardinals. Corea was able to pick up his first win of the season for the Cardinals by working one inning.  

GAME TWO: Hamilton 5, Plattsburgh State 2 (7 inn.)
Back-to-back singles to begin the bottom of the second followed by the second base on balls issued by Colin Crawford loaded the bases for the Continentals, and Tyler Reinhold and Brian Ferrell were able to make things 2-0 Hamilton after a foul out and a fielder’s choice respectively.

After seeing their first six batters of the day get retired one after the other, Plattsburgh State was able to put some offense together in the third. Shane Houppert mashed a two-out single to right field before Mat Chavez stepped in the batter’s box and blasted a ground-rule double into right center.

A balk by Hamilton’s Steve Wright allowed Houppert to score and bring the Cardinals within one, 2-1, headed to the bottom of the frame.

The Continentals were able to retake their two-run lead when Becker began the half inning with a double before being crossing home plate after Joe Jensen reached on an error by Ben Weightman.

Plattsburgh State was able to get as close as one run on one final occasion when Latulipe began the top of the fourth with a sharp double down the right field line. After advancing to third on a passed ball, the sophomore made it home on an RBI groundout by Mulvihill.

Hamilton provided the knockout shot in the bottom of the fifth inning when Tim Burke connected on an offering from Plattsburgh State reliever Mike Doughtie, sending the ball out of the park for a two-run homerun.

 Over the final pair of frames, the Cardinals had a rough time against Hamilton reliever Mike Williams who allowed just two more hits while piling up five strikeouts in his short appearance.

Crawford (0-2) took his second loss of the season while Houppert went 2-for-3 to lead the Cardinals at the plate. Scott Orr made his first appearance of his collegiate career out of the Plattsburgh State bullpen and had an easy one, two, three frame in the bottom of the sixth.

The two through six hitters in Hamilton’s lineup each picked up one of the five hits during the game by the Continentals.

Plattsburgh State will enjoy a day off on Wednesday before returning to the field again on Thursday. The Cardinals will play a single game against Framingham State with the first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.