PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – In its first State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) games of the year, the Plattsburgh State softball team (9-9, 1-1 SUNYAC) split a doubleheader with the New Paltz Hawks (8-8, 1-1 SUNYAC), falling 8-5 in the first game and prevailing 11-6 in the second contest.
Game 1: Plattsburgh State 5, New Paltz 8
The Cardinal were off to a rough start in the early matchup, sophomore pitcher
Katie Pitkin struggled early while the Hawks capitalized on a few walks. Julia Perhacs doubled, while Nicole DeCosta doubled and homered in the early going which saw New Paltz score seven runs in the first two innings.
Cardinal senior
Morgan Anderson replaced Pitkin in the second and was able to hold off the Hawks through six innings, before giving up one run in the seventh.
Plattsburgh found some offense in the fifth inning when
Jennifer Groat doubled to bring in
Kaitlyn Preiss. Then a few batters later
Dominique Zummo doubled to score Groat and
Amanda Tantillo.
The Cardinals only managed three runs in the fifth and snuck in one more run in the seventh on a Tantillo homer to left center.
Katie Rutcofsky was the winning pitcher, lasting all seven innings and striking out seven batters.
Game 2: Plattsburgh State 11, New Paltz 6
It was clear in game two that Pitkin was out for revenge for her previous outing. The Dexter, N.Y. native held the Hawks in check, lasting 6.1 innings and fanning 6 batters in earning the win.
The Cardinals offensively exploded early in game two, sending six runners across the plate in the first frame. Tantillo, Groat, Zummo,
Amy Glashoff and
Jackie Decker all singled in succession, only to have
Nicole Cast blast a two run shot and send Hawks pitcher Taylor Corwin packing early.
Plattsburgh scored six in the first, and found a commanding 9-4 lead heading into the fifth.
New Paltz would make thing interesting, scoring two runs in the fifth to close the lead to three.
The Cardinals responded however, scoring two of their own on the sixth on a two run homer to left field by Glashoff.
Anderson entered for Pitkin in the seventh for Plattsburgh State, getting the save and helping the Cardinals to their first conference win.
Plattsburgh will have one day of rest before hosting the Oneonta Red Dragons at South Acres Field on Sunday at 1 p.m.