Box Score PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Down by two with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, the Plattsburgh State baseball team was unable to conjure up any more offensive magic as the Cardinals fell to Oswego State 7-5 at Chip Cummings Field on Friday afternoon.
Both the Cardinals (11-21, 4-12 SUNYAC) and the Lakers (19-13, 10-6) collected 12 hits in the first of three confrontations between the squads in the final weekend of conference play.
Starting off, the Cardinals were forced to deal with Oswego’s Dan Erne who entered the game sporting a 4-1 record with a 1.65 ERA. Undaunted by those numbers, Plattsburgh State wasted no time in giving its own starter – senior Marc Plante – some early run support.
Luke Weaver jumped on the very first pitch Erne tossed, sending it up the middle for a single to get things started in the home half of the first. After Shane Houppert reached on a fielder’s choice that saw Weaver reach second safely after the first of two Oswego State errors on the day, Brian Latulipe laid down a perfect bunt single to load the bases for Chris Pescetti.
On his first swing of the day, the sophomore made things 2-0 Cardinals with a sharp single through the right side of the infield. Mike Vargues added to Plattsburgh State’s advantage moments later when he laced an RBI double down the left field line to make it 3-0.
Even though the Cardinals turned the first of their three double plays in second, the Lakers were still able to begin their comeback. With a runner on third, Plante hit Alex Jurczynski before issuing a wild offering that sent Jurczynski to second.
Dan Karleski shrunk the Plattsburgh State lead to just one after his single to right-center scored a pair before Plante was able to get out of the frame.
After the Cardinals grounded into a double play of their own in the home half of the second, the Lakers took the lead for good in the third. Three consecutive two-out hits by the visitors translated to a pair of runs for the Lakers who went up 4-3 before Plante finished the inning and was pulled from the game.
The Lakers padded their lead in the fourth thanks to a pair of unearned runs which were charged to Plattsburgh State reliever Corey Grossman.
Nick Lupo’s fourth double of the season allowed the Cardinals to pull within two runs after Casey Brighton crossed the plate in the bottom of the fourth. Brighton represented the second unearned run of the day for the Cardinals.
Jordan Giller extended the Oswego State lead to three once again in the seventh when his RBI double scored Andrew Lazzaro from second, making the score 7-4.
All of the control exhibited after the first inning from Erne didn’t carry over to the Oswego State bullpen. Back-to-back singles by Mat Chavez and Brighton off of Lakers’ reliever Miles Kelly followed by a walk to Lupo loaded the bases for Weaver in the bottom of the eighth.
The freshman picked up his only RBI of the tilt after his fielder’s choice plated Chavez before the rally attempt was ended.
Kelly walked Latulipe to lead off the ninth, which gave way to Oswego’s sidearm hurler Ryan Donovan. The reliever issued a four-pitch walk to Pescetti, but two fielder’s choice outs hurt the Cardinals’ chances.
Chavez drew a walk to load the bases, but another fielder’s choice off the bat of Brighton ended the game.
The Cardinals stranded 12 runners on base in the game, and Plante fell to 0-4 on the season after working three innings and giving up four earned runs. Erne improved to 5-1 after a six-inning day on the mound where he allowed 10 hits and four runs.
Weaver went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Vargues and Lupo each had a pair of hits and an RBI while Pescetti was 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
The Cardinals and Lakers will conclude their three-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader that is scheduled to begin at noon. Prior to the start of the game, there will be a short senior day ceremony to honor the contributions of the eight seniors on the team.
