AUBURNDALE, Fla. – What originally started out as a pitcher's duel between the Plattsburgh State baseball team and Keuka College was turned upside down when the Wolfpack conjured up some big-time hits in a four-run eighth in the Cardinals' 5-2 defeat at the RussMatt Invitational on Saturday afternoon.
It was the final game of the Cardinals' nine-game Florida road trip and the setback sent their record to 7-8 while the Wolfpack evened their 2015 mark at 1-1.
The five Plattsburgh State hits appeared to be just enough to earn the triumph through the first seven-and-a-half innings. It was the Cardinals who got on the scoreboard first when freshman
Brandon Buksa grounded out to third base.
An errant throw by Keuka's third baseman allowed
Tyler Bulich to hustle around and score all the way from second, staking the Cardinals to a 1-0 edge.
That was the way the score remained until the bottom of the seventh. A major contributor of the Wolfpack's troubles in the batter's box was Cardinals' starting hurler
Sean Howard. The towering freshman worked his way through six scoreless frames and was fresh off retiring the previous six batters he faced before the seventh frame commenced.
Kyle Dailey punched a two-out RBI single into right field to knot the tilt at one apiece. It was the only hit of the frame.
After drilling a two-out single to right field in the top of the eighth,
Brian Latulipe would come around to score on a wild offering. The Plattsburgh, N.Y., product's run made matters 2-1 Cardinals.
Four of the Wolfpack's 11 hits came in their four-run eighth. With one out in the frame and the bases loaded, Brett Fenton ripped a triple to right field, clearing the bases and putting the Wolfpack ahead 4-2. Robert LaRue brought Fenton around to score with an RBI single later in the frame to account for the final score.
Howard took the tough-luck loss, firing seven innings and surrendering nine hits and three runs.
On Friday afternoon, the Cardinals are scheduled to make their first 2015 appearance at Chip Cummings Field. Plattsburgh State is scheduled to meet up with longtime rival Oswego State for a 3 p.m. SUNYAC bout. It will serve as the opening game of a three-game set between the two institutions.
