LEESBURG, Fla. – The Plattsburgh State softball team wrapped up its spring break trip on Saturday, defeating Westfield State University, 7-2, before falling to Kalamazoo College, 7-6, at the National Training Center Spring Games.
 
Plattsburgh State moves to 8-8 overall with the results and takes nearly two weeks off from competition before visiting SUNY Oneonta for a 3 p.m. State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC)-opening doubleheader on Friday, March 31. Westfield State drops to 3-6 with the loss, while Kalamazoo rises to 6-6 with the win.
 
Game 1: Plattsburgh State 7, Westfield State 2
 
A four-run second inning ultimately vaulted the Cardinals to victory in their first game of the day against Westfield State, as they never trailed in the contest.
 
Sophomore second baseman Anna Fisher (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport) plated the first run of the game in the second on a fielder's choice, while sophomore catcher Jennifer Groat (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) pushed two runners across with a double two batters later. Groat came around to score on the ensuing at-bat, as junior center fielder Dominique Zummo (Commack, N.Y./St. Anthony's) scored her with an RBI single.
 
Westfield State got two runs back in the top of the fourth before the Cardinals countered with one run in the home half of the inning off an RBI base knock by freshman designated player Haleigh Agans (Brasher Falls, N.Y./St. Lawrence Central). In the sixth, Zummo notched her second RBI of the game with a single up the middle, while Agans drove in her second run of the game with an RBI groundout.
 
Groat, Zummo, freshman left fielder Taylor Fischer (Cottekill, N.Y./Rondout Valley) and sophomore right fielder Jennifer Sarcone (Centereach, N.Y./Newfield) each registered multiple hits for Plattsburgh State, while five different Westfield State batters notched a hit.
 
Junior pitcher Katie Pitkin (Dexter, N.Y./General Brown) earned the win in the circle for the Cardinals, yielding two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out nine. Senior pitcher Julia Sullivan shouldered the loss for the Owls, permitting seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits and two walks while striking out four.
 
Game 2: Kalamazoo 7, Plattsburgh State 6
 
Kalamazoo batted around in a six-run second inning, and though Plattsburgh State scored six unanswered runs to close the game, the Cardinals fell just short of completing the comeback.
 
The Hornets drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in the first before breaking out for six runs in the second. A three-run double by senior designated player Nori Seita staked Kalamazoo to a 7-0 advantage.
 
Plattsburgh State began clawing back in the third, as Groat and Zummo both drove in a run. Junior third baseman Kelsey Gage (Pine Bush, N.Y./Pine Bush) and Fisher pushed across one run each in the fifth before Agans and sophomore shortstop Kaitlyn Preiss (Cornwall, N.Y./Cornwall) posted RBI singles in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively.
 
Zummo posted the Cardinals' top outing offensively, going 3-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI and a double, while Groat, Agans and Gage also scattered multiple hits. Two different Hornets recorded hits.
 
Freshman pitcher Rhea Pitkin (Dexter, N.Y./General Brown) allowed seven unearned runs in 1 2/3 innings pitched before junior Taylor Smith (Washingtonville, N.Y./Washingtonville) came in and threw 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Senior pitcher Erin DuRoss earned the win for Kalamazoo, while freshman pitcher Liz Knivila picked the up the save.