Box Score PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Playing in what will prove to be the final set of games of his career over the next week, senior Brian Burns was able to pick up his SUNYAC-leading fifth win of the season in an 8-4 non-conference triumph over Skidmore at Chip Cummings Field on Tuesday afternoon.
As a team, the Cardinals improve to 10-20 while the short-handed Thoroughbreds fell to 11-17 on the season.
A leadoff walk issued by Burns proved troublesome as Skidmore center fielder Leejay Pollacchi gave the Liberty League squad a 1-0 lead thanks to a one-out RBI single.
After a quick strikeout and throw out ended the Cardinals’ chances in the bottom of the first, the home team began the process of putting up seven unanswered runs in the second.
Mike Vargues poked a ball through the left side of the Skidmore infield before designated hitter Ben Weightman drew a walk to load the bases. With that, Mat Chavez wound up with an RBI after reaching on a fielder’s choice that scored Chris Pescetti and knotted matters at one.
Thanks to some heady base running, Vargues would come around to score minutes later when he crossed home plate easily after the Thoroughbreds elected to take out Chavez who was caught in a rundown.
While Burns was keeping the Thoroughbreds off the board, the Cardinals tacked on another trio of runs in the bottom of the third. Shane Houppert beat out his sacrifice bunt attempt, and Kevin Briggs would come around to make it a 3-1 ballgame after an errant throw by Skidmore backstop Jake Dougherty.
The Cardinals’ lead climbed even higher as Pescetti laced an RBI single to right-center field before Mike Vargues picked up an RBI of his own, plating Houppert on a fielder’s choice.
Pescetti collected his second RBI of the tilt in the bottom of the sixth when another single off of his bat scored Houppert once again, giving the Cardinals a 6-1 advantage.
After five strong innings of work, Burns was relieved by fellow senior Marc Plante who sat down the first three Thoroughbreds he faced. Nick Lupo produced the only extra-base hit of the game when his double in the bottom of the seventh scored Mat Chavez and made things 7-1 Plattsburgh State.
Skidmore crept to within three by putting up a three-spot in the top of the seventh. Pollacchi picked up two additional RBIs when his single up the middle made it a 7-4 Plattsburgh State lead. Steven Corea was summoned from the bullpen to finally put a halt to Skidmore’s offense.
An RBI groundout by Houppert in the bottom of the eighth pushed the final run of the game across.
Burns fanned five, allowed five hits and one run en route to his 5-2 mark. Corea picked up his first save of the season after 2.1 innings of work. Andrew Bannon (0-2) took the loss for Skidmore, lasting just three innings and giving up five runs on six hits and a walk.
Houppert, Pescetti, Chavez and Lupo each collected two of the 12 Plattsburgh State hits while Pescetti netted two RBIs. Pollacchi went 2-for-5 with three RBIs to lead Skidmore.
In less than 24 hours, the Cardinals will engage in another non-conference confrontation, this time against the Dutchmen of Union College. The game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. on Wednesday at Chip Cummings Field.
