Box Score ONEONTA, N.Y. – A three-run sixth inning – drawn out due to a Plattsburgh State error – denied the Cardinal baseball squad from securing back-to-back SUNYAC triumphs for the first time in 2014 as Oneonta State took an 8-4 decision from the team at Red Dragon Baseball Field on Sunday afternoon.
Five hits were all the Cardinals could muster against Oneonta State starter Alex Mastrianni (2-5) who worked 8.2 innings to pick up the victory and send Plattsburgh State to 8-14 and 3-5 in league play.
The Red Dragons, meanwhile, were led by Matt Mastroianni (4-for-4, two RBI) and Christopher Orlado (3-for-5, three RBI) as they upped their mark to 7-13 and 3-1 in conference clashes.
Jeremy Rodriguez staked the visitors to an early 1-0 lead when his RBI single up the middle plated Nick Lupo, who reached on a dropped fly ball with one out.
Cardinals' starter Scott Orr (1-3) was forced to work his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the first frame before the Red Dragons took the lead for the first time. After fanning Casey Kerdecky to begin the home portion of the second, Orr gave up a single and issued back-to-back walks to load the bases once again.
Oneonta State plated a pair of runs on an RBI fielder's choice by David Wright and an RBI single by Mastroianni.
A lead-off single by Chris Pescetti in the top of the fourth was the start of something good for the visitors as Mat Chavez pushed a sharp single up the middle to score Pescetti and knot matters at two.
The home team took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth on another RBI single by Mastroianni. Another Oneonta State run would cross the dish in the bottom of the sixth to make things 4-2 before a costly error helped the Red Dragons scratch across the game-winning runs.
Zach Hieb misplayed a ground ball to second base, allowing Wright to reach. An infield hit would load the bases before Orlando send the very first pitch he saw from Orr to left field, plating a pair of unearned runs and upping the Red Dragons' edge to 6-2.
Plattsburgh State was able to trim its deficit to 6-4 in the top of the seventh. After reaching on an error, Luke Weaver advanced to third with a Chavez single and a groundout from Yuya Osawa. A wild pitch by Mastrianni allowed Weaver to scamper home before a sacrifice fly by Lupo plated Chavez.
Oneonta State tacked on its final pair of runs in the home half of the eighth. Casey Kies led off the inning by taking a 2-2 pitch from Cardinals' reliever Mike Vargues and blasting it over the fence in left field for his first collegiate home run. Orlando added an RBI double later in the frame to account for the final score.
Down to their final set of outs in the top of the ninth, the Cardinals managed to load the bases after the first two outs recorded. Brian Latulipe, though, was unable to bring anyone else home as he flied out to right to end the game.
The Cardinals, seeking to re-enter the SUNYAC win column, will take part in another conference series next weekend. Siena College will be the site of the three-game set between Plattsburgh State and The College at Brockport with game one slated for a 3 p.m. start on Friday. The squads will wrap up the series with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
