CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State softball team found out the hard way why the Cortland Red Dragons are first in the State University of New York Athletic Conference, dropping a set of games 11-3 and 8-0 on Friday.
Game 1: Plattsburgh State 3, Cortland 11 (6 Inn.)
Leading off game one, Plattsburgh State looked as if it had a slight advantage on the Red Dragons.
The Cardinals connected on a few pitches, while Cortland committed two errors and hit two batters to start the day.
In that process,
Kelsey Gage reached on a fielder's choice, bringing in Plattsburgh State's leadoff batter
Kaitlyn Preiss.
Following Gage,
Amy Glashoff brought in the Cardinals' second and final run of the inning when she grounded out to second base.
After one, Plattsburgh State led 2-0 over the Red Dragons.
The lead did not last long unfortunately for the Cardinals.
Cortland tallied four runs in the bottom of the opening frame and did not relinquish its lead for the remainder of the game.
Plattsburgh State's last run of the game would come in the second on a Preiss groundout to second that scored freshman
Samantha Railey.
Cortland began to settle in after a shaky start in the field, and held the Cardinals scoreless for the rest of the game.
It was a 4-2 contest until the bottom of the fifth inning. The Red Dragons began to figure out Cardinal pitcher
Morgan Anderson, and pushed across three runs before
Tabitha Butler came in to relieve Anderson.
Butler struggled as well against the Red Dragons bats, as she gave up three in the fifth, and Anderson returned for the final out of the inning.
Now trailing 10-3, Plattsburgh State couldn't manage any offense in the top of the sixth and were hanging on, hoping to hold Cortland scoreless in the bottom of the frame.
The Cardinals managed to get two outs, but with a runner on second, Cortland's Skyler Hoyt singled to score one and end the game in six innings via the eight run rule.
Game 2: Plattsburgh State 0, Cortland 8 (6 Inn.)
Things didn't seem to get any better for Plattsburgh State in the game two matchup.
The Cardinals were held scoreless for the first time this season and only managed one hit.
The pitching was on two different ends of the spectrum in game two. Cardinal starter
Katie Pitkin struck out two batters and gave up five earned runs while throwing 122 pitches.
Red Dragon starter Alexandrea Flint lasted five innings, struck out two, and didn't give up a walk or earned run, only needed 47 pitches in doing so.
Plattsburgh State held Cortland to four runs through five innings, but it was the sixth inning again where Cortland found itself in a position to win via run rule, scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Amanda Tantillo got the lone hit for Plattsburgh State.
With the losses, the Cardinals slip to 18-12 overall and 6-4 in conference. The Red Dragons improve to 22-8 and 11-1 in the SUNYAC.
Plattsburgh State will look to get back in the win column tomorrow in Oswego to play a doubleheader with the Lakers beginning at noon.
