Box Score PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Five Plattsburgh State errors coupled with some timely offensive production by Middlebury were the primary reasons why the Cardinals dropped a 5-3 decision to the non-conference Panthers at Chip Cummings Field on Tuesday afternoon.
Although the majority of the defensive miscues by the Cardinals (6-15) caused no damage, two of them led to a pair of unearned runs by the Panthers.
Plattsburgh State put the first run on the board when designated hitter Tommy Verdino reached on a throwing error by Middlebury first baseman Joe McDonald. That mistake allowed Brian Latulipe to come all the way around from second base to provide a two-out run and make matters 1-0 Cardinals.
Middlebury got to Plattsburgh State starter Scott Orr early on as well, knotting matters at one on a two-out RBI single by Andrew Lind. The hit plated Tom Rafferty who led off the top of the second with a single of his own.
Although they eventually regained the lead in the fourth, it looked as though the Cardinals were poised to do so sooner. Freshman Ben Weightman crushed a one-out triple to deep center field in the bottom of the second, but Middlebury hurler Sawyer Olson registered two of his seven strikeouts to end the Plattsburgh State threat.
An additional pair of Middlebury errors allowed the Cardinals to break the 1-1 deadlock in the bottom of the fourth. Verdino was gunned down on strikes, but wound up making it all the way to second after a throw from Lind sailed well over the head of McDonald.
Weightman brought Verdino in after he reached on a fielding mistake by Tom Rafferty before the Cardinals netted yet another run in the fifth. The only earned scored by Plattsburgh State came after Luke Weaver reached on a perfectly placed bunt to lead off the frame.
From there, Nick Lupo smacked a single through the right side of the infield, advancing Weaver to third. Lupo tried to advance to second on the throw, but was caught in a hang-up by the Middlebury infield. While Lupo was trying to get out of his jam, Weaver broke for home, scoring easily.
Looking to close things up Colin Crawford came out from the Plattsburgh State bullpen, only to have his defense fall apart behind him. The Panthers were able to tack on one run in the seventh and yet another in the eighth to tie things at three thanks to three errors by Jimmy Rosario at shortstop.
After registering a pair of quick outs in the top of the ninth, Crawford issued back-to-back walks before base hits by Alex Kelly and Kyle Finck plated the only two earned runs of the day for Middlebury and accounted for the final score.
Plattsburgh State struck out 11 times as team, allowing reliever Noah Bakker (1-1) to earn the victory. Crawford (0-3) was hit with the loss. Lupo went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a walk to lead the Cardinals while no one player for Middlebury finished with more than one RBI.
The Cardinals look to get back on track with another non-conference contest on Wednesday. Clarkson will make the relatively short journey to Chip Cummings Field for one nine-inning game with the first pitch scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
