Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State softball team was unable to rally in game one, before facing an insurmountable deficit in game two as the Cardinals suffered two losses to New Paltz by scores of 5-4 and 9-0. The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) games were played at South Acres Park in Plattsburgh.
 
The pair of losses drops the Cardinals to 6-18 overall and 3-7 in the SUNYAC. The Hawks improve to 9-14 on the year and 6-5 in conference play.
 
Game One: New Paltz 5, Plattsburgh State 4
 
New Paltz got off to a quick start in game one after the Hawks' leadoff hitter Shayna Burgess was hit by a pitch and stole second before Noelle Grande doubled down the right field line to bring Burgess around to score the first run in the top of the first.
 
The Cardinals scored three runs in the bottom of the third to take their only lead of the day. Kayla Rabideau hit a one-out single to right field before stealing second. Nicole Chiarello doubled to left field, allowing Rabideau to score the tying run. Back-to-back singles by Brittany Marshall and Shelby Heyward brought Chiarello home to give Plattsburgh State a 2-1 lead. Later in the inning, Kristine Gay's RBI single to left center scored Marshall and gave the Cardinals a 3-1 lead at the end of the third.
 
The Hawks responded with four runs in the fourth to regain the lead. Kiersten Carlomagno reached on an error and advanced on a bunt by Jordan Fiore. New Paltz starter Katie Rutcofsky helped her own cause with a two-run double to the gap in left center to clear the bases and tie the game at 3-3. A single up the middle by Amber Carozza put runners on the corners before Alex Verso doubled to center to bring home two more runs and give the Hawks a 5-3 lead.
 
Plattsburgh State got one back in the fifth when Chiarello reached on a throwing error and advanced to second. The Cardinals were able to manufacture the run after a sacrifice by Marshall put Chiarello on third before the Plattsburgh State rookie scored on a fielder's choice to cut the deficit down to one run.
 
Rutcofsky picked up the complete-game win for the Hawks, allowing six hits and four runs – three of which were earned. She struck out five and did not walk a batter. Sophomore Morgan Anderson took the ball for the Cardinals, allowing four earned runs on eight hits in four innings of work. She struck out one in the loss. Kristin Fisher pitched three innings of scoreless relief for Plattsburgh State.
 
Six different players recorded a hit for the Cardinals while Heyward drove in two runs and Chiarello crossed the plate twice. Fiore and Juliette Verso each had two hits for the Hawks.
 
Game Two: New Paltz 9, Plattsburgh State 0 (5 inn.)
 
The Hawks scored all nine runs in the first two innings, putting the Cardinals in a hole they could not get out of in a 9-0 loss in five innings.
 
Cardinals' starter Sam Moss had a shaky outing, surrendering six earned runs on six hits in the loss. Moss worked into the second inning before giving way to Fisher, who gave up one unearned one and four hits while striking out three in four innings of relief.
 
Moss plunked the Burgess to leadoff the game before Chelsea Kull's infield single scored the Hawks' first run of the game. Meg Brewer drilled a doubled down the left field line, allowing two runs to score. Fiore's two-out single to the same spot brought Brewer around to score and gave New Paltz a 4-0 advantage at the midway point of the first inning.
 
A leadoff walk and a fielding error by the Cardinals in the top of the second put runners on the corners for the Hawks before Burgess' infield single put New Paltz up by a score of 5-0. Grande followed with a single to center field to load the bases and signal the end of Moss' afternoon. Fisher was unable to work out of the jam as the first batter she faced singled to center to make it a 6-0 game. The Hawks scored three more times in the inning before Fisher was able to get Alex Verso looking to end the inning.
 
In each of the last three innings, the Cardinals' leadoff batter doubled but New Paltz starter Amber Carozza retired the next three batters each time to keep Plattsburgh State off the scoreboard.
 
Carozza held the Cardinals to three hits while striking out three in the complete game shutout.
 
Brewer went 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs and a run for the Hawks. Grande, Kull and Fiore also added two hits apiece.
 
The Cardinals return to action tomorrow with a doubleheader against Oneonta at South Acres Park. First pitch is scheduled for noon.