Box Score FORT MYERS, Fla. - A two-run eighth inning coupled with a fine relief effort on the mound by sophomore Mike Vargues launched the Plattsburgh State baseball team to its first triumph of the season as the Cardinals outscored Umass-Boston 5-4 in their inaugural game of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic on Saturday afternoon.
Sophomore Nick Lupo's third hit of the bout produced the game-winning score as Mat Chavez crossed home plate thanks to the single.
Plattsburgh State (1-4) pounded out some 11 hits against the Beacons' (2-1) pitchers and did not commit an error in the field.
Although the Cardinals secured the victory, it was UMass-Boston that drew first blood in the non-conference tilt. Todd Ezold put the Beacons up 1-0 with a two-out RBI double in the home half of the first inning before Plattsburgh State starter JD Jenkins surrendered another two-out RBI hit to Nick Brothers in the second.
The only error of the game proved to be a costly one for the Beacons when junior Frank Buksa reached first base safely to begin the fourth inning due to a fielding miscue by the UMass-Boston shortstop. After a pair of outs, the Cardinals strung together a trio of hits to knot matters at two each.
Yuya Osawa sent a sharp single through the middle of the infield to plate Buksa before Chavez came up with a similar hit that scored Jon Repetto.
Plattsburgh State took its first lead of the contest when Brian Latulipe led off the fifth by drawing the only walk issued by Beacon starter Daniel Mantoni. Lupo followed up with a single which advanced Latulipe all the way to third before designated hitter Jeremy Rodriguez picked up an RBI with a ground out to first base to score Latulipe.
Jenkins loaded the bases with Beacons in the bottom of the fifth and saw the opposition even things up once again after he plunked Ezold who received an RBI.
Directly after the hit by pitch, Vargues took over on the mound and induced three straight outs to get the Cardinals out of the frame.
The deadlock continued until the top of the eighth when Steve Roche received the ball for the Beacons. After Repetto began the frame with a flyout, a hit by Osawa and walks by Chavez and Weaver loaded the bases.
Another Plattsburgh State out followed before Gabe May trotted out to the mound. A wild offering by May scored Osawa before Lupo provide the pivotal RBI single to close out the scoring.
The Beacons got one back in the bottom of the ninth by way of a double steal, but Vargues worked his way out of a jam that saw runners on first and third by registering a flyout and his second strikeout of the game to cap the win.
Osawa reached base safely all five times he was up, going 3-for-3 with a pair of walks. Lupo finished 3-for-4 while Chavez and Chris Pescetti also provided two hits each.
Vargues worked through five innings to improve to 1-0 in 2014. He gave up just three hits while striking out two and walking none.
Plattsburgh State continues its lengthy slate of games in the Sunshine State on Sunday when the Cardinals take on Plymouth State in a doubleheader which is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
