Box Score NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Wrapped up in a pivotal State University of New York Athletic Conference battle with New Paltz, the Plattsburgh State baseball team stranded 11 runners on base and couldn’t overcome a strong start by the Hawks in a 6-4 defeat on Friday afternoon.
With the loss, the Cardinals slide to 9-18 and 4-9 in league play while the Hawks improve to 13-14 and 9-6 in SUNYAC games.
New Paltz jumped on Plattsburgh State starter Scott Orr early as the Hawks put up a trio of runs during their first round of at-bats. The big hit came off the bat of David Lostaglio when the designated hitter punched a one-out double down the right field line that brought in a pair of runs.
Undaunted in facing the SUNYAC strikeout leader Chris Chismar, the Cardinals began to claw their way back into the picture after Chismar displayed some serious control issues from the bump.
With the bases loaded in the top of the second thanks to three of the seven walks issued by Chismar, Nick Lupo recorded the first Plattsburgh State RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to center field that plated Chris Pescetti.
After being unable to register a hit in the first two innings, the Cardinals could seemingly do no wrong against Chismar in the third. Luke Weaver began the inning with a single up the middle before Shane Houppert legged out an infield hit.
That set the stage for Brian Latulipe, who blasted an RBI double down the left field line before Pescetti brought Houppert around to score with an RBI single that knotted matters at three. The Cardinals recorded four straight hits before a lineout and a double-play ball put an end to the frame.
Orr surrendered another pair of New Paltz runs in the home half of the third after registering a pair of quick outs. Three consecutive hits – including another two-base RBI blast from Lostaglio – gave the Hawks a 5-3 lead.
From there, each pitcher settled into a groove until Chismar’s inaccuracy helped the Cardinals to cut into the New Paltz lead yet again. Casey Brighton drew a four-pitch leadoff walk before advancing to second on a wild offering by Chismar.
After advancing to third on a groundout by John Casten, Brighton cut the Hawks’ lead to just one when Lupo picked up his second RBI of the day with a groundout.
Once again, though, it was Lostaglio who re-padded the New Paltz lead with an RBI single in the home half of the seventh to account for the final margin.
Plattsburgh State had a chance to come back and knot things up in the eighth, but Houppert grounded out to third base with runners on second and third to end the top of the frame.
Orr (0-2) took the loss by giving up 10 hits and five earned runs in 5.1 innings of work. Despite his control problems, Chismar (5-3) picked up the victory by throwing 5.2 innings and giving up four hits and four runs.
Weaver and Houppert were each 2-for-5 with a run scored while Lupo did the majority of the damage with a pair of RBIs despite not registering a hit (0-for-2).
Lostaglio was 3-for-4 with four RBIs for the Hawks.
The Cardinals and Hawks will wrap up their three-game league series on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader at Loren Campbell Memorial Field. The first pitch of the twinbill is scheduled for noon.
