Box Score FORT MYERS, Fla. – Behind a sterling outing from senior right-hander Joe Leddy, the Plattsburgh State baseball team (4-7) earned its second consecutive win for the first time in 2014 with a 6-3 defeat of the University of Dubuque (3-6) on Wednesday morning.
Leddy (1-0), who hails from Goshen, N.Y., was sharp right from his opening pitch as he allowed just one run to the Spartans in seven innings of work. He gave up six hits to Dubuque, struck out one batter and did not issue any walks to the opposition through the first of his first collegiate victory.
With their first set of at-bats of the game, the Cardinals barely wasted any time in giving Leddy some run support. Brian Latulipe drew a two-out walk and swiped second base before being waved home as junior Frank Buksa made it 1-0 with an RBI double to left field.
Buksa crossed home plate minutes later when left fielder Jeremy Rodriguez mashed a double of his own to center field to make matters 2-0.
Three of the six hits Leddy surrendered came in the bottom of the first. Consecutive one-out singles set the table for Dubuque's Michael Salazer who cut the Plattsburgh State lead in half with an RBI single before the frame came to a close.
Plattsburgh State would go on to maintain its 2-1 edge all the way through the sixth inning before adding some much-needed insurance runs. Luke Weaver began the top of the seventh with a base on balls and made it to third base after a sacrifice hit coupled with a groundout.
Weaver raced home while Latulipe was reaching safely on the Spartan's first error of the day to make matters 3-1.
Leddy sat down the Spartans in order during his final inning on the hill and gave way to fellow senior Kyle Kelly who forced Dubuque into three straight ground ball outs in the home portion of the eighth.
Another three runs in the ninth inning would provide some extra cushion for the Cardinals' lead. John Casten began the frame by sending a sharp double down the left field line. After Weaver was hit with a patch, Yuya Osawa stepped to the dish and delivered the game-winning runs with a two-run double down the left field line.
Buksa added a third RBI to his morning at the plate when his two-out single plated Osawa and made things 6-1.
Dubuque jumped on Kelly in the bottom of the ninth, getting a double and a single before Austin McWhite drove in the second and third runs for the Spartans with an additional two-base hit. With that, Osawa was summoned from the bullpen and responded by forcing a flyout and a game-ending double play ball to earn his first save.
The Cardinals struck for 11 hits, with Buksa accounting for a game-high three of them. Buksa and Osawa each finished the game with a pair of RBI and a run scored. Casten and Weaver added two hits apiece to the Plattsburgh State total.
Tyler Trifiletti took the loss for the Spartans as he worked four innings while giving up six hits, three walks and a pair of runs. Salazer, Steve Ryan and Gaetano Florio each had a pair of hits for Dubuque.
Plattsburgh State will take a break from its non-conference schedule to engage in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) warfare on the diamond come Thursday morning. The Cardinals will face off against Fredonia State in a doubleheader which is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
