CLERMONT, Fla. – Like the vast majority of college students do this time of year, the Plattsburgh State softball team waved goodbye to the snow and chilly temperatures of the north and embarked on a spring break journey to Florida. This trip, though, was strictly business for the Cardinals and they popped the cork on their 2015 campaign by going 1-1 in their first of 14 games in the Sunshine State. 

GAME ONE: No. 22 William Patterson 1, Plattsburgh State 0
Tasked with trying to take out one of the nation's top teams in their first start of the season, the Cardinals received an excellent start in the pitching circle by senior Kristin Fisher.

The Plattsburgh, N.Y., product matched zeroes with Pioneer starter Kerrin Dys through the first three innings of the game and also registered the Cardinals' first hit of the year when she punched a one-out single into the outfield in the top of the second.

Fisher worked her way out of a jam in the second. With Pioneers on second and third with just one out, the final-year hurler induced a popout and fanned Dys to spoil William Patterson's chance for offense.

William Patterson scored the game's lone run in the bottom of the fourth. After Fisher punched out the first two batters she faced, Christina Austin pushed a single through the Cardinals' infield.

The Cardinals' only error of the tilt would prove costly, though, as Dys reached on an errant throw. Austin was able to scamper around the bases, providing all the offense the Pioneers needed in the process.

It looked as though the Cardinals had something cooking in the top of the fifth as sophomore Hope VanBrocklin drew a base on balls before Kelsey Gage stepped to the dish and picked up her first hit as a collegian to put runners on first and second.

Dys was able to sneak out of trouble with one of her eight strikeouts – this one to end the frame.

The Cardinals wouldn't put another runner on the base paths for the remainder of the game, and Allison Podmajersky pitched a scoreless seventh to pick up the save.

Fisher (0-1) took the tough-luck loss, working six innings and surrendering just four hits and a walk while fanning eight.

GAME TWO: Plattsburgh State 4, FDU-Florham 3
After being limited to just two hits in their season opener, the Cardinals broke out the bats to the tune of eight hits and took down the Devils 4-3.

FDU-Florham took an early 1-0 lead by registering back-to-back hits and a pair of walks in the top of the first. Freshman pitcher Taylor Smith finally worked her way out of the inning by inducing a flyout to the seventh batter of the frame
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It didn't take long for the Cardinals to produce some offense of their own as Brittany Marshall started a three-run first with a one-out triple. After the Malone, N.Y., product touched home plate thanks to a passed ball, Jacqueline Decker began a string of three hits for Plattsburgh State with a double.

Dominique Zummo and Taylor Smith kept the hit parade going with an RBI single and an RBI double respectively, which pushed the Cardinals' edge to 3-1.

That was the way the scoreboard stayed until the Devils stepped into the batter's box in the top of the fourth. Two errors, a walk and a hit created two more runs for FDU-Florham who knotted matters at three apiece.

Morgan Anderson had made her way into the circle at the beginning of the frame, but wasn't charged for any of two unearned scores.

As both pitchers settled into their respective grooves it looked as though extra innings were a sure thing, but the Cardinals made sure they weren't necessary with some timely hitting in the bottom of the sixth.

Zummo led off the frame with a single, but was gunned down on a steal attempt after Fisher struck out as a pinch hitter. With two outs, Van Brocklin drew a walk which set the table for Lauren Graves to play hero. The freshman out of Schenectady, N.Y., brought Van Brocklin home with a game-winning RBI single.

Anderson shut the Devils down in the seventh, inducing a pair of infield flies with a runner on third and one out to preserve the win.

Decker, Zummo and Smith each had a pair of hits for the Cardinals while Anderson (1-0) scored the win, working four innings and giving up five hits and two walks.

Plattsburgh State will be back at it bright and early on Sunday morning when they face off against Oswego State in the SUNYAC opener for both teams. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.