FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – In its first action of the 2015 campaign, the Plattsburgh State baseball team combind to deliver just seven hits in its first two games and ran into a hot-hitting University of Mary Washington Team that racked up 25 hits as the Cardinals dropped a pair of seven-inning tilts by scores of 11-2 and 16-1 at V. Earl Dickinson Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Cardinals' pitchers faced control issues all day, tallying 12 walks and six hit batters as Plattsburgh State falls to 0-2. The Eagles improve to 2-0.
GAME ONE: Univ. of Mary Washington 11, Plattsburgh State 2The first chance to push any runs across the board occurred when Nick Lupo led off the Cardinals' season with a base on balls. The senior, though, was caught stealing and Plattsburgh State would go down swinging to conclude the frame.
Taking the ball in an attempt to silence the Eagles in their first set of 2015 at bats was senior Mike Vargues. Mary Washington, though, had other plans as it received RBI base knocks from Jono Haught and James Keller to take a 2-0 edge before the inning came to a close.
Three consecutive singles by the Eagles in the second inning produced the game-clinching score for the home team. Kyle Bynum slapped a ball to center field for his first RBI of the season and before things were said and done one of four Plattsburgh State miscues would allow another Eagle runner to touch home plate.
A pair of triples in a three-run third assisted in the Eagles' efforts to extend their lead. David Slupek and Mitch Moynihan each ripped a three-base RBI hit in the frame.
The most damaging hit of the tilt came off the bat of Haught in the home half of the fifth. After the frame was extended by two more Plattsburgh State miscues, Haught deposited a triple into right field which cleared the bases and upped Mary Washington's lead to 11-0.
Zach Hieb finally put the brakes on the Eagles' no-hit bid by sending a one-out single down the left field line in the top of the sixth. Brian Latulipe followed that up with a single of his own to load the bases, but Frank Buksa flied out and Lupo was tagged out at home to end the Cardinals' scoring threat in that inning.
Three straight singles to begin the top of the seventh led to the Cardinals' first run of the season. Alex Rodriguez captured his first RBI as a Cardinal when his single through the right side plated Chris Pescetti. The Cardinals concluded the scoring two batters later when Matt Krogh picked up an RBI on a groundout to third.
Vargues survived just 2.1 innings of action as the final-year man allowed eight hits and seven runs. Ryan Van Assche cobbled together five innings of no-hit ball and struck out five to record the win. Lupo and TJ Montalbano each reached base on two occasions.
GAME TWO: Univ. of Mary Washington 16, Plattsburgh State 1Making his first-ever appearance in Plattsburgh State colors, junior John Milano was forced to do some earl y damage control as the Eagles loaded the bases on their first set of at-bats.
Two walks and an infield single had the Cardinals searching for an out, but before one was registered a passed ball allowed the home team to take a 1-0 lead. Mary Washington tacked on the game-winning score when David Slupek's one-out sacrifice plated Justin Kime and made matters 2-0.
The Eagles added another score in a first frame that featured just one hit before breaking things open in the home portion of the third. Mary Washington struck for eight runs, forcing the Cardinals to use a trio of hurlers before they made it out of the inning.
Jono Haught provided the big hit with a bases-loaded two-run single. Trevor Markey finally put an end to the extended frame by inducing a pair of outs – one by way of his first strikeout as a Cardinal.
TJ Montalbano represented the Cardinals' first baserunner of the day when he laced a sharp one-out single up the middle of the Eagles' infield in the top of the fourth.
Plattsburgh State broke up Mary Washington's bid for a shutout in the top of the sixth when freshman Brandon Buksa led off the inning with a hard double down the left field line. Lupo struck for his first RBI of the season two batters later, bringing in Buksa with a sacrifice fly.
Five more runs would score for the Eagles in the bottom of the sixth to account for the final score.
Milano was hit with the loss as he worked 2.1 innings and gave up seven runs – six of which were earned. Nick McIntyre secured the win by slinging five innings of one-hit ball and amassing five strikeouts. Haught and Mitch Moynahan each recorded a trio of RBIs for the home squad.
Two weeks will pass before the Cardinals get a chance to pick up their first win of the season. Saturday, Feb. 28, will see Plattsburgh State head to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to take on Grove City College in a doubleheader which begins at noon.
