Box Score PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Heading into a pivotal State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) weekend, the Plattsburgh State baseball team put together one of its best offensive performances at the expense of a non-conference foe.
The Cardinals broke out their bats and forced Clarkson to utilize seven pitchers in a 9-3 romp over the Golden Knights at Chip Cummings Field on Wednesday afternoon.
With the victory, Plattsburgh State saw its record rise to 7-15 in 2013 while Clarkson dropped to 8-11.
Plattsburgh State wasted no time in getting under the skin of Clarkson starter Geoff Baldwin. The freshman looked shaky, walking leadoff hitter Brian Latulipe and hitting Nick Lupo before recording his first out.
Freshman Mat Chavez gave the Cardinals the lead for good when his one-out single plated Latulipe and made things 1-0 heading to the second.
It looked as though Baldwin would make is out of the second unscathed after the Cardinals picked up a pair of quick outs, but back-to-back singles from JD Springer and Shane Houppert followed by Lautlipe getting hit by a pitch helped the Cardinals enhance their lead.
The only error during the game for the Golden Knights proved to be a costly one, as second baseman Nathan Rebhun misplayed a ground ball off the bat of Lupo that allowed another two Plattsburgh State runners to score.
Chavez followed that up with yet another hit and picked up his second RBI of the day after Latulipe crossed home plate safely.
Eager to earn his second win of the season, Corey Grossman enjoyed a productive day on the hill for the Cardinals, and was buoyed by his offensive lineup.
Clarkson piled up a pair of runs of its own in the third thanks to a pair of infield hits, a double and an RBI groundout, but Grossman stood his ground and put an end to the Golden Knights’ run scoring in the frame.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth, John Casten recorded his first RBI of the day after drilling the 1-0 offering from Clarkson reliever Ian Castle into center field. Hoppert came around to score, making things 5-0 in favor of the Cardinals.
Rafael Ponce gave up the only other run of the game for Clarkson as the reliever allowed a one-out RBI single to Nolan Driscoll in the top of the fifth.
Wasting no time in getting that run back, Casey Brighton launched a double to deep left field that easily scored Luke Weaver who led off the bottom of the fifth with a single. Houppert drove in another run for the Cardinals with a deep single down the left field line.
The Cardinals tacked on their final pair of runs thanks to a wild pitch from Clarkson reliever Evan Young and some heads-up base running from Houppert who scampered home while Lupo was making a big for a stolen base.
Shunsuke Sugimoto worked the final four innings for Plattsburgh State, allowing just three hits for his first save of the season. Grossman would earn the win (2-3), as he worked six innings and gave up six hits and a pair of earned runs.
Chavez and Houppert each went 3-for-4 at the dish for the Cardinals with the former picking up a pair of RBIs. Hoppert drove in one and scored three runs.
The Cardinals will be bound for Brockport to take on the Golden Eagles in a three-game conference series this weekend. Game one is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon at the Clark V. Whited Complex.
