PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – It was a wild Wednesday for the Plattsburgh State softball team, as it picked up two extra inning walk-off wins over North Country foe, the Clarkson Golden Knights.
The Cardinals rallied in both games for 7-6 and 4-3 decisions over the Golden Knights.
Game 1: Plattsburgh State 7, Clarkson 6 (8 inn.)
After holding an early two-run advantage, Plattsburgh State gave up two runs in the fifth and three runs in the sixth inning to trail 5-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh.
The Cardinal dugout was roaring, and so were the Cardinal bats as
Kaitlyn Preiss doubled to left field to bring in
Kelsey Gage. Following Preiss,
Amanda Tantillo singled through the right side to drive in Preiss and
Anna Fisher, tying the game at five.
The Cardinals had a great opportunity to end it in the seventh. With the bases loaded and nobody out,
Amy Glashoff,
Hope VanBrocklin, and
Dominique Zummo each fell victim to pop outs.
In extras, Clarkson would send one run across in the top of the eighth. But it was Plattsburgh State who loaded the bases for Preiss to draw a walk which scored Zummo.
Amanda Tantillo then singled to shortstop, and in doing so,
Kelsey Gage scored on an error by the catcher, giving the Cardinals the victory.
Tantillo finished game one 2-for-4 at the plate and brought in three runs in the process.
Game 2: Plattsburgh State 4, Clarkson 3 (8 inn.)
Game two might have ended well for Plattsburgh State, but it didn't start the greatest as Golden Knights pitcher Jamie Bridge kept the Cardinals scoreless through five innings.
In the process, Clarkson managed two early runs in the first inning, and one again in the fifth.
It was the sixth where Plattsburgh State broke through its scoreless barrier for three runs.
With one out,
Amanda Tantillo tripled to right field. Cardinal freshman
Jennifer Groat then doubled to left, bringing in Tantillo.
Now with two outs and Groat having stolen third base,
Amy Glashoff's single to left center brought the Cardinals to within one run.
Glashoff found her way to third on a pair of wild pitches. The two-out rally continued when
Nicole Cast reached on an error by the third baseman, and Glashoff crossed home to even the score.
Neither Clarkson nor Plattsburgh State managed to push across a run in the seventh frame and both teams went to extras again.
The Cardinals were able to keep Clarkson off the board in the top of the eighth, and in the bottom of the frame, it was
Amy Glashoff who grounded out to the shortstop. In doing so Groat scored from third and the Cardinals completed another comeback to claim victory over the Golden Knights.
Tantillo was solid again at the plate in game two, going 3-for-4, while Glashoff brought in 2 RBI.
Katie Pitkin went all eight innings in getting the win on the mound for Plattsburgh State.
The non-conference victories put Plattsburgh State at 18-10 overall, while Clarkson slips to 17-11.
The Cardinals don't have much time to rest as they prepare for an extended weekend of softball action, traveling to Cortland Friday, Oswego Saturday, and then Fredonia and Buffalo State on Sunday and Monday.
