Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Engaging in its first 2013 SUNYAC baseball confrontations at Chip Cummings Field, the Plattsburgh State baseball squad wound up on the wrong end of a pair of 7-0 decisions against No. 2-ranked SUNY Cortland on Saturday afternoon.

GAME ONE: No. 2 SUNY Cortland 7, Plattsburgh State 0 (9 inn.)
In search of his first victory of the season, senior pitcher Kyle Kelly got roughed up from the get-go by the Red Dragons (16-4, 5-0 SUNYAC). Kelly, who now stands at 0-3 on the 2013 campaign, drilled the first Cortland batter he faced before issuing his first of three walks on the day.

After a sacrifice bunt from John Adornetto placed both of the Cortland runners into scoring position, Chris Jackson laced a two-out single just past the outstretched glove of Plattsburgh State first baseman Chris Pescetti, giving the Red Dragons a 2-0 advantage.

Plattsburgh State (3-11, 1-4 SUNYAC), meanwhile, couldn’t get much going against Cortland’s Mike Hughes. The Cardinals amassed just four hits off of the stingy right-hander, and saw their best chance to put some runs on the board go by the wayside in the bottom of the third.

Luke Weaver reached in an infield single before Mat Chavez made it on by virtue of a base on balls. The duo was moved into scoring position after Brian Latulipe grounded out, but designated hitter Mike Mulvihill couldn’t bring about any offense as he flew out to right field to end the frame.

Jackson picked up his third RBI of the day for Cortland in the third before leadoff man Zach Graczyk smashed a mammoth double to left center, plating two additional Red Dragon runs and making things 5-0 heading to the bottom of the sixth.

Graczyk’s second double of the day came in the top of the eighth when he picked up his third RBI by scoring Tim Panetta. Graczyk crossed home plate on a sacrifice fly by Adornetto later in the frame to account for the final score.

Kelly lasted 5.2 innings, giving up seven hits, five runs and three walks while striking out just one. Mulvihill registered the only extra base hit of the game for the Cardinals with his double in the sixth and was 1-for-3 at the plate.

Hughes worked eight innings, and allowed just three hits and three walks. Graczyk was 2-for-4 in the batter’s box while Jackson was 2-for-3.

GAME TWO: No. 2 SUNY Cortland 7, Plattsburgh State 0 (7 inn.)
It appeared as though a classic pitcher’s duel was on the docket between Brian Burns and Kyle Barkley if the first few innings were any indication.

Burns, who entered the game with a sparkling 0.98 ERA, fanned two of the first three Cortland batters he faced and the Plattsburgh State defense behind him made some great plays to back up the senior early on.

After working his way out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the top of the second, Burns saw Brian Barry fly out and Graczyk get gunned down at the dish thanks to a splendid outfield assist from Weaver. Unfortunately, the errors began to pile up for the Cardinals shortly thereafter.

Cortland took a 1-0 lead when Jackson and Adornetto pulled off a successful double steal of second and home respectively. Adornetto reached on Plattsburgh State’s third error of the game.

A sacrifice fly by Graczyk in the top of the fifth made things 2-0 before things really began to unravel for the Cardinals.

Instead of picking up what looked like an easy third out on a fly ball, Mike Vargues committed the fourth Plattsburgh State error of the game that extended the inning and allowed four unearned runs to cross the plate.

Barry closed out the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the top half of the sixth.

Again, the Cardinals were mystified by the Cortland pitching staff, getting just three hits off of Barkley (4-0). Vargues recorded the only extra-base hit for the Cardinals with a double in the bottom of the fourth.

Burns (2-1) took his first loss of the season, working 4.2 innings and giving up five runs of which just one was earned.
 
The Cardinals and Red Dragons will wrap up their regular season series with a single nine-inning tilt at Chip Cummings Field on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for noon.