PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State softball dropped team both ends of a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) doubleheader against Oswego State Tuesday afternoon at Cardinal Park, falling, 9-1, in six innings in game one before sustaining a 4-2 setback in game two.
Plattsburgh State falls to 10-12 overall (4-4 SUNYAC) with the losses and next visits SUNY Oneonta for a 3 p.m. doubleheader on Friday, April 19, at 3 p.m. Oswego rises to 10-16 overall (5-5 SUNYAC) with the wins and next visits SUNY Potsdam tomorrow for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.
Game 1: Oswego 9, Plattsburgh State 1 (6 inn.)
The Lakers scored at least one run in the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings to come away with a 9-1 victory in game one. Behind junior pitcher/right fielder Rebecca Vilchez, Oswego took a no-hitter into the fifth inning.
Oswego took a 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI single by freshman second baseman Brianna LoMonaco and extended the advantage in the third on an RBI groundout by Vilchez and an RBI double by freshman designated player Brianna Harrington. Senior shortstop Erin Sweeney extended the Laker edge to 4-0 with an RBI double in the fourth before back-to-back sacrifice flies in the fifth staked Oswego to a 6-0 lead.
Sophomore second baseman
Sydney Adolfo (Morrisonville, N.Y./Saranac) drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth to put Plattsburgh State on the board, but the Lakers added three runs of insurance in the top of the sixth. Sweeney pushed across a run with a sacrifice fly before senior catcher Emily Knowlden drove in two with a double to right center.
Junior designated player
Haleigh Agans (Brasher Falls, N.Y./St. Lawrence Central), junior right fielder
Frannie Merkel (Brewster, N.Y./Brewster) and freshman first baseman
Alex McKearin (Valatie, N.Y./Ichabod Crane) all had hits in game one, while Knowlden paced Oswego with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate that included two RBI.
Vilchez earned the win, yielding one run on two hits while striking out four in five innings of work, while Plattsburgh State utilized two pitchers in the loss. Freshman pitcher
Elliana Bowlen (Keeseville, N.Y./AuSable Valley) permitted three unearned runs in two innings of relief.
Game 2: Oswego 4, Plattsburgh State 2
Knowlden's two-run home run in the top of the sixth was the difference in a 4-2 Oswego victory in the nightcap.
After three scoreless innings by both teams, senior designated player/pitcher/right fielder Angela Frampton put Oswego ahead with a two-run single up the middle in the top of the fourth. Plattsburgh State countered with two runs in the home half of the inning, as senior pitcher/left fielder
Jennifer Groat (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) cut the deficit in half with an RBI double to left field before coming around to score on a passed ball to tie the game at 2-all.
Knowlden ripped the decisive home run in the top half of the sixth, taking a 1-1 pitch over the left-center field fence to give the Lakers a 4-2 advantage. Following a Groat single with no outs in the bottom of the sixth, Vilchez entered the game. She induced a fielder's choice groundout and forced a 4-6-3 double play to get Oswego out of the inning. In the bottom of the seventh, Merkel led off the inning with a bunt single, but three groundouts ultimately sealed the 4-2 victory for the Lakers.
Groat batted 2-for-3 with an RBI, a double and a run scored to lead the Cardinal attack, while seven different Lakers had a hit in the win. Groat now has 45 career doubles, which is tied for second on the program's all-time list with Amy Woo (2007-10).
Despite drawing the start in the circle, Groat did not earn a decision, yielding two runs on four hits and seven walks while striking out two in 3 1/3 innings of action. Bowlen was tagged with the loss despite 3 2/3 strong innings of relief work, as she gave up two runs on three hits and two walks. Oswego's Frampton earned the win in relief, while Vilchez was credited with the save.
